From Latin *vox, vocis* ("voice, sound, word"), from Proto-Indo-European *wṓkʷs*, related to *wekʷ-* ("to speak"). The same root gives English "vocal," "vocation," and "invoke," as well as Spanish *voz* and Italian *voce*.

In Portuguese, *voz* carries weight beyond the literal: *dar voz a alguém* (to give someone a voice) is a common expression for letting a person or group be heard in public discourse. Brazil's rich musical culture — from samba to bossa nova — has made *voz* a celebrated word; famed singer Elis Regina was nicknamed *O Vozeirão* ("The Great Voice"). Note that European and Brazilian Portuguese differ slightly in pronunciation: in Portugal, the word sounds closer to /vɔʃ/, while in Brazil it tends toward /vɔs/ or /vojs/ depending on the region.