carol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal (religious/seasonal context); Informal (as a verb).
Quick answer
What does “carol” mean?
A festive song, typically religious and associated with Christmas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A festive song, typically religious and associated with Christmas.
A joyful song or hymn, especially one celebrating a specific season or event; also the act of singing such songs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. 'Carol singing' is slightly more common in UK; 'caroling' (US spelling) vs. 'carolling' (UK spelling) for the verb.
Connotations
Identical strong Christmas connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Spikes dramatically in frequency during the Christmas season. Slightly more frequent in UK media due to traditional 'carol services'.
Grammar
How to Use “carol” in a Sentence
sing a carolcarol about [something]go carolling [somewhere]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We went carolling around the neighbourhood.
- The choir carolled the classic hymns.
- They were carolling joyfully in the town square.
American English
- We plan to go caroling on Christmas Eve.
- The children caroled from door to door.
- She caroled a happy tune while baking.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use).
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use).
American English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in marketing for seasonal products/services.
Academic
Used in musicology, theology, and cultural studies discussing festive traditions.
Everyday
Common in December, referring to Christmas songs and activities.
Technical
In music, can specify a type of strophic song with a uniform stanza structure.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carol”
- Using 'carol' for any religious song (it's specifically festive/joyful).
- Misspelling verb forms: 'carolled' (UK) vs. 'caroled' (US).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Overwhelmingly yes in modern usage, but historically it could refer to other festive, circular dances and songs for seasons like Easter or Spring.
A hymn is a general religious song of praise, often for worship. A carol is a specific type of festive song, often narrative and joyful, strongly associated with a season like Christmas.
It's very rare. The verb 'to carol' means to sing joyfully, so it's possible in poetry or descriptive prose (e.g., 'The birds carolled at dawn'), but in everyday use, it's almost exclusively linked to Christmas singing.
Both are correct. 'Caroling' is the standard American English spelling. 'Carolling' with a double 'l' is the standard British English spelling, following the rule of doubling the consonant after a short vowel when adding a suffix.
A festive song, typically religious and associated with Christmas.
Carol is usually neutral to formal (religious/seasonal context); informal (as a verb). in register.
Carol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkærəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkerəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The voice of a carol (poetic/literary)”
- “To go a-carolling (archaic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CAROL sings at CHRISTMAS' – both words start with 'C' and are strongly linked.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOY IS A SONG; CELEBRATION IS COLLECTIVE SINGING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'carol' LEAST likely to be used?