French word

chanson

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃɑ̃sɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsong

Example

J'aime cette chanson.

I like this song.

Illustration for chanson (song)

More examples

J'écoute une chanson à la radio.

I am listening to a song on the radio.

Core concept

A compact sung piece carried by a distinct melody and its accompanying words.

Common phrases

  • écouter une chanson

    listen to a song

  • chanter une chanson

    sing a song

Similar words

morceau: A single piece of music heard at a concert or on an album.
air: A short tune that people can hum.
mélodie: A beautiful melody that forms the central part of a piece.

Definition in French

Pièce musicale chantée, généralement courte, avec paroles et mélodie reconnaissables.

Word origin

Chanson developed from Old French chanson and ultimately from Latin cantio, a noun related to canere, meaning to sing.

Usage tips

  • French chanson usually means a song rather than any track on an album, since titre can identify a track by its position or name.

Opposites

Related words

  • chansonniersongwriternoun
  • chansonnettedittynoun

Word lists with this word