nasal
relating to the nose / sounding through the nose
Adjective
This term carries a clinical precision when discussing anatomy, but shifts toward a critical or descriptive tone when applied to speech. In a medical context, it is neutral and diagnostic, describing the physical pathways of the respiratory system.
When describing a voice, it often suggests a pinched or grating sound, frequently associated with a specific regional accent or a cold. It implies a lack of resonance in the chest or throat, focusing the sound entirely in the upper facial cavity.