blues: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, neutral, and technical (in music contexts).
Quick answer
What does “blues” mean?
A state of sadness, melancholy, or low spirits, often prolonged. Also, a genre of music characterized by a melancholic, soulful sound and specific chord progressions, originating from African American communities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of sadness, melancholy, or low spirits, often prolonged. Also, a genre of music characterized by a melancholic, soulful sound and specific chord progressions, originating from African American communities.
The term can refer to a feeling of general depression, a style of music, a specific musical form (12-bar blues), or, informally, a state of feeling unwell or downcast. In sports, it can refer to a team's nickname (e.g., Chelsea FC).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The core meanings are identical. 'The Blues' as a team nickname is more common in UK sports (e.g., Birmingham City FC, Everton FC). In the US, 'blues' can colloquially refer to police uniforms ('the boys in blue').
Connotations
In both, the music genre carries cultural weight. The emotional connotation is universal, though the phrase 'to have the blues' might be slightly more idiomatic in American English.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties. Slight edge to American English due to the genre's cultural origins.
Grammar
How to Use “blues” in a Sentence
to have the bluesto get the bluesto feel the bluesto play the bluesto sing the bluessuffering from the bluesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blues” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He bluesed the old standard with a modern twist.
- (Rare; more common in music jargon)
American English
- She bluesed her way through the heartbreak, turning pain into song.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare/non-standard)
American English
- (Extremely rare/non-standard)
adjective
British English
- It was a classic blues riff. (Attributive use)
- He's a blues guitarist.
American English
- She has a powerful blues voice.
- We went to a blues club in Chicago.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in HR/wellbeing contexts: 'addressing the post-project blues.'
Academic
In musicology, cultural studies, or psychology: 'analysing the harmonic structure of Delta blues' or 'the blues as a cultural response to adversity.'
Everyday
Common for describing mood: 'I've got the blues today' or discussing music: 'Let's listen to some blues.'
Technical
Primarily in music theory: 'a blues progression in the key of E,' or in psychology/medicine as informal shorthand for depressive symptoms.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blues”
- Using 'blues' as a countable noun incorrectly (*'I have a blues').
- Confusing 'blues' (music/mood) with 'blue' (colour/adjective for sadness).
- Misspelling as 'bluse'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically plural but often treated as singular in meaning when referring to the music genre ('The blues is popular') or the emotional state ('The blues is hitting me').
'Feeling blue' is a more general, temporary state of sadness. 'Having the blues' often implies a deeper, more lingering melancholy, and is strongly associated with the musical genre's ethos.
Yes, but it's informal and primarily used in musical contexts, meaning to play or sing in a blues style (e.g., 'She bluesed up that pop song').
The name comes from the expression 'the blue devils,' meaning melancholy and sadness. The music evolved from the work songs and spirituals of African Americans, expressing these deep emotions.
A state of sadness, melancholy, or low spirits, often prolonged. Also, a genre of music characterized by a melancholic, soulful sound and specific chord progressions, originating from African American communities.
Blues is usually informal, neutral, and technical (in music contexts). in register.
Blues: in British English it is pronounced /bluːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /bluːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have the blues”
- “singing the blues (complaining)”
- “blue Monday”
- “chase the blues away”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine feeling BLUE and listening to sad music (the blues) to match your mood. The colour blue is associated with sadness, and 'blues' extends that feeling into a state and a musical style.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS A COLOUR (BLUE); SADNESS IS MUSIC; A MOOD IS AN ENTITY ONE POSSESSES ('I have the blues').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'blues' used to refer to a uniform?