German word

Moll

Pronunciation

IPA/mɔl/

Meaning

  • neuter nounminor key

Example

Der Chor singt jetzt im Moll.

The choir is singing in a minor key now.

Illustration for Moll (minor key)

More examples

Das Stück wechselt plötzlich in Moll.

The piece suddenly changes to a minor key.

Core concept

A musical color built around a lowered third, giving a composition a softer, deeper tonal character.

Common phrases

  • in Moll

    in a minor key

  • in a-Moll

    in A minor

Similar words

Dur: A major key with a higher third and a brighter, more open sound.
Tonart: The named key that sets a composition's notes and tonal center.
Tonleiter: An ordered series of notes that provides the basis for a composition.
Terz: The interval from one note to the note two scale steps above it.

Definition in German

Moll bezeichnet eine Tonart oder Tonleiter, bei der die Terz kleiner ist als in Dur und die Klangfarbe deshalb oft dunkler oder trauriger wirkt.

Word origin

Moll entered German through Italian molle from Latin mollis, meaning 'soft', as a musical counterpart to Dur from Latin durus, meaning 'hard'.

Usage tips

  • Moll is a neuter noun, so standalone use takes the article das and the word remains capitalized.

Opposites

  • Durmajor keynoun

Related words

  • Molltonminor keynoun

Word lists with this word