zither
2 synonyms for zither, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A stringed musical instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings stretched over it, played with a plectrum or the fingertips.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
cither
zithern
How to use zither
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
play the zither
zither music
a zither player
It is an ordinary, neutral word, used mostly when talking about music.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from German Zither, which came from Old High German zithara. That in turn goes back to Latin cithara and Ancient Greek kithara, a kind of harp.
Full origin of zither →Frequently asked questions
What is a zither?
A zither is a stringed instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings. It is played with a plectrum or the fingertips.
How do you pronounce zither?
In British English it is said ZITH-uh, with the stress on the first syllable and a soft th as in this.
Where does the word zither come from?
It was borrowed from German Zither, which comes from Old High German and Latin, and ultimately from the Ancient Greek word for a kind of harp.
