song
12 synonyms for song, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A short piece of music with words, meant to be sung.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use song
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sing a song
write a song
bird song
for a song
Etymology
From Old English sang, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to sing." Related to the German word Sang and the Dutch zang.
Full origin of song →Frequently asked questions
What does “song” mean?
The word “song” means a short piece of music with words, meant to be sung. In plain terms, a piece of music with lyrics, or the musical calls animals make.
How do you pronounce “song”?
“Song” is pronounced song (/sɒŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “song” in a sentence?
Here is “song” used in a sentence: “She hummed her favourite song on the way to work.”
What part of speech is “song”?
“Song” is a noun.
Where does the word “song” come from?
The word “song” comes from Old English. From Old English sang, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to sing." Related to the German word Sang and the Dutch zang.
Is “song” a common word?
“Song” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “song” have?
“Song” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short piece of music with words, meant to be sung.
What is the difference between a song and a tune?
A song is a complete short piece of music with words meant to be sung. A tune is just the melody — the sequence of notes you can hum — with or without lyrics. Every song contains a tune, but an instrumental tune with no words is not a song.
What are the parts of a song?
Most songs are built from a few repeating sections. The verse tells the story and changes each time; the chorus is the catchy, repeated part carrying the main message; and the bridge offers a contrasting section for variety. Many songs also open with an intro and close with an outro.
What are the types of song?
Songs are grouped by style and purpose. By genre there are pop, rock, folk, country, and many more. By purpose you find ballads that tell a story, anthems that rally a crowd, lullabies that soothe children, and hymns for worship. The words and mood define each type.
Related words
canticle
go for a song
