French word

orgue

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔʁg/

Meaning

  • masculine nounorgan

Example

Le musicien joue de l'orgue pendant le concert.

The musician is playing the organ during the concert.

Illustration for orgue (organ)

More examples

L'orgue de la cathédrale date du XVIIIe siècle.

The cathedral organ dates from the 18th century.

Core concept

A large keyboard instrument whose deep, sustained sound comes from arranged pipes or electronic circuits.

Common phrases

  • jouer de l'orgue

    play the organ

  • orgue d'église

    church organ

  • orgue électronique

    electronic organ

Similar words

piano: A keyboard instrument with quick note attacks and a wide range of tones.
organe: A body part that performs a specific physiological function.

Definition in French

Clavier musical produisant des sons puissants et soutenus, habituellement par des tuyaux ou par un dispositif électrique.

Word origin

French orgue developed from Old French forms of Latin organum, which came from Greek organon and originally meant a tool or instrument.

Usage tips

  • French orgue names the musical instrument, while organe usually means a bodily organ or another functional component.

Related words

  • organisteorganistnoun

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