noun
harmonica
hahr-MO-nih-kuh
Harmonica (noun) means a small handheld wind instrument played by blowing and drawing air across a row of metal reeds. Example: “He pulled out a harmonica and played a soulful blues riff.”
noun
1
A small handheld wind instrument played by blowing and drawing air across a row of metal reeds.
"He pulled out a harmonica and played a soulful blues riff."
"The busker's harmonica echoed through the subway station."
How to use harmonica
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe small mouth-blown instrument also called a "mouth organ" or "harp" in blues slang.
Common pairings
play the harmonica
blues harmonica
harmonica solo
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Word forms
- Plural
- harmonicas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He pulled out a _____ and played a soulful blues riff.
Etymology
Named by Benjamin Franklin, who coined "harmonica" for his glass instrument (played by rubbing wet fingers on glass bowls) decades before the small blown instrument borrowed the same name.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for harmonica
See all rhymes for harmonica →Frequently asked questions
What does “harmonica” mean?
The word “harmonica” means a small handheld wind instrument played by blowing and drawing air across a row of metal reeds. In plain terms, the small mouth-blown instrument also called a "mouth organ" or "harp" in blues slang.
How do you pronounce “harmonica”?
“Harmonica” is pronounced hahr-MO-nih-kuh (/ˌhɑɹˈmɑ.nɪ.kə/ in IPA).
How do you use “harmonica” in a sentence?
Here is “harmonica” used in a sentence: “He pulled out a harmonica and played a soulful blues riff.”
What is another word for “harmonica”?
Words with a similar meaning to “harmonica” include French harp, gob iron, harmonicon, Mississippi sax, mouth harp and mouth organ.
What part of speech is “harmonica”?
“Harmonica” is a noun.
