French word

accordéon

Pronunciation

IPA/akɔʁdeɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounaccordion

Example

Mon frère apprend à jouer de l'accordéon.

My brother is learning to play the accordion.

Illustration for accordéon (accordion)

More examples

Il a acheté un accordéon d'occasion.

He bought a used accordion.

Core concept

A folding bellows between two hand-held panels, turning air into simultaneous melody and harmony through keys or buttons.

Common phrases

  • jouer de l'accordéon

    play the accordion

  • un accordéon d'occasion

    a used accordion

Similar words

guitare: A stringed instrument played with the fingers or a pick, often used to accompany singing.
piano: A large keyboard instrument played at home or in performance venues.
harmonica: A small portable instrument played by blowing and drawing air through it.
violon: A small stringed instrument played on the shoulder with a bow.

Definition in French

Instrument de musique à soufflet et à anches, que l'on joue en ouvrant et en fermant le soufflet tout en appuyant sur des touches ou des boutons pour produire des accords et des mélodies.

Word origin

French accordéon was borrowed from German Akkordeon, whose name derives from Akkord, the German word for a chord.

Usage tips

  • For playing this instrument, French uses jouer de l'accordéon rather than jouer l'accordéon.

Related words

  • accordéonisteaccordionistnoun

Word lists with this word