noun
Common
lied
leed
Lied (noun) means a German art song for solo voice and piano, typically setting a poem to music. Example: “The baritone chose a gentle lied about a river for his encore.”
noun
1
A German art song for solo voice and piano, typically setting a poem to music.
"The baritone chose a gentle lied about a river for his encore."
"The soprano closed the recital with a Schubert lied."
"She studied German lieder for her graduate vocal degree."
How to use lied
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classical German art song, usually just voice and piano.
Memory tip
The plural is "lieder," not "lieds" — worth knowing if you talk about classical music.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a Schubert lied
sing a lied
German lieder
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Word forms
- Plural
- lieder
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baritone chose a gentle _____ about a river for his encore.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from the German word Lied, meaning "song."
Synonyms
View more →
art song
Rhymes for lied
See all rhymes for lied →Frequently asked questions
What does “lied” mean?
The word “lied” means a German art song for solo voice and piano, typically setting a poem to music. In plain terms, a classical German art song, usually just voice and piano.
How do you pronounce “lied”?
“Lied” is pronounced leed (/liːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “lied” in a sentence?
Here is “lied” used in a sentence: “The soprano closed the recital with a Schubert lied.”
What part of speech is “lied”?
“Lied” is a noun.
Where does the word “lied” come from?
The word “lied” comes from German. Borrowed directly from the German word Lied, meaning "song.".
Is “lied” a common word?
“Lied” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the plural of 'lied' (the German song)?
The plural of 'lied,' meaning a German art song, is 'lieder.' This plural comes directly from German and is used in English music writing, as in 'a recital of Schubert lieder.'
What is the difference between 'lied' the song and 'lied' the past tense of lie?
As a noun, a 'lied' is a German art song for solo voice and piano. As a verb, 'lied' is the past tense of 'to lie,' meaning to tell an untruth, as in 'he lied about it.' They are spelled the same but unrelated.
What is the difference between a 'lied' and a song cycle?
A 'lied' is a single German art song setting a poem to music for voice and piano. A song cycle is a set of related lieder designed to be performed together as one larger work.
Is 'lied' capitalized in the musical sense?
In German, all nouns are capitalized, so the word appears as 'Lied.' In English it is normally written in lowercase, 'lied,' unless it begins a sentence or forms part of a title.
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