Japanese word

ソナタ

Pronunciation

Romajisonata

Meaning

  • nounsonata

Example

彼女はソナタを美しく演奏します。kano jo wa so na ta o utsuku shi ku en sō shi ma su

She plays the sonata beautifully.

Illustration for ソナタ (sonata)

More examples

このソナタは四つの楽章で構成されています。ko no so na ta wa yon tsu no gaku shō de kō sei sa re te i ma su

This sonata consists of four movements.

Core concept

It names a structured instrumental work in which related musical ideas unfold across several contrasting movements.

Common phrases

  • ピアノソナタpi a no so na ta

    piano sonata

  • ソナタ形式so na ta kei shiki

    sonata form

Definition in Japanese

一つまたは少数の楽器で演奏するために作曲された、いくつかの楽章から成る器楽作品。hito tsu ma ta wa shō sū no gak ki de en sō su ru ta me ni sak kyoku sa re ta i ku tsu ka no gaku shō ka ra na ru ki gaku saku hin

Word origin

ソナタ (sonata) is a Japanese borrowing from Italian sonata, meaning "sounded" and deriving from sonare, "to sound"; the term contrasts instrumental music with sung music.

Usage tips

  • The word sonata often appears with an instrument or composer in English titles, such as a piano sonata or a Beethoven sonata.

Word lists with this word