a cappella

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian alla cappella (“in the manner of the [Sistine] chapel”), referring to non-instrumental choirs.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌæ.kəˈpɛl.ə/, /ˌæ.kæˈpɛl.ə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌɑ kə.ˈpɛl.ə/
  • Rhymes: -ɛlə
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

a cappella (plural a cappellas)

  1. (music) A vocal performance with no instrumental accompaniment.

Adverb

a cappella (not comparable)

  1. (music) In a manner of a choir with no instrumental accompaniment; literally, "in the style of the (Sistine) Chapel (in Rome)", such as a musical Mass done a cappella. [First attested in the late 19th century.][1]
    Groups of teens singing a cappella on street corners got recording contracts.
  2. (obsolete, music) In alla breve time.

Translations

Adjective

a cappella (not comparable)

  1. (music) Singing solely or mainly without instrumental accompaniment. [First attested in the late 19th century.][1]
    An a cappella group sang during the wedding reception.
  2. (music, US) Related to a form of purely vocal music mostly associated with American college performance groups.
    • 2012. Powerful Voices. Joshua S. Duchan.
      Socially, a cappella groups tend to be tight-knit ensembles in which close interpersonal relationships are formed.
  3. (obsolete, music) alla breve.

See also

References
  1. Brown, Lesley, ed. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. 5th. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Italian

Adverb

a cappella

  1. (music) a cappella

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian a cappella.

Adverb

a cappella (not comparable)

  1. (music) a cappella (performed by a choir with no instrumental accompaniment)

Spanish

Adverb

a cappella

  1. a cappella
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