German Conversation · Level 27
90 words
German word
Melodie
Pronunciation
IPA/meloˈdiː/
Meaning
- feminine nounmelody
Example
Viele Melodien bleiben im Ohr.
Many melodies stay in your head.
More examples
Sie spielte eine Melodie auf dem Klavier.
She played a melody on the piano.
Core concept
The recognizable tune carried by a song, played by an instrument, or heard in the mind afterward.
Common phrases
eine Melodie auf dem Klavier spielen
play a melody on the piano
eine Melodie pfeifen
whistle a melody
Melodie bleibt im Ohr
A melody lingers in one's ear
Similar words
Lied: A piece of music with lyrics written for vocal performance.
Song: A modern popular song performed by singers or musicians.
Refrain: A recurring part of a song that repeats its lyrics or melody.
Definition in German
Melodie bezeichnet eine erkennbar gestaltete Tonfolge, die musikalisch als Einheit wirkt.
Word origin
Melodie entered German as a borrowing from French mélodie, which goes back to Greek melōidia, a compound related to song and singing.
Usage tips
- German Melodie usually means the tune itself, not the entire song; the usual word for the latter is Lied or Song, depending on context.