castanet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist / Formal
Quick answer
What does “castanet” mean?
A small, concave musical instrument made of hardwood, ivory, or plastic, held in the hand and clicked together to produce rhythmic sounds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, concave musical instrument made of hardwood, ivory, or plastic, held in the hand and clicked together to produce rhythmic sounds.
One of a pair of such instruments, used especially in Spanish, Flamenco, and classical music to provide percussive accompaniment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Evokes imagery of Spanish or Flamenco culture identically in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “castanet” in a Sentence
play (the) castanetsaccompany [sb/sth] with castanetsclick [one's] castanetsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, and dance studies when discussing Spanish or orchestral percussion.
Everyday
Rare; would only appear in specific conversations about music, dance, or Spanish culture.
Technical
Specific to music performance and instrument classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “castanet”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “castanet”
- Using the singular 'a castanet' to refer to the instrument (usually 'castanets' or 'a pair of castanets' is used).
- Mispronouncing the final 't' as silent.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. One half of the pair is technically 'a castanet', but in practice, the word is almost always plural ('castanets') or preceded by 'a pair of'.
Traditionally, they are made from hardwoods like chestnut, ebony, or granadillo. Modern versions can be made from fibreglass or pressed cloth.
Basic clicking is simple, but professional Flamenco or orchestral playing requires significant technique and practice to execute complex rhythms cleanly.
Yes, occasionally in classical orchestral music by composers like Bizet or Rimsky-Korsakov to evoke a Spanish or exotic atmosphere, but their core association remains strong.
A small, concave musical instrument made of hardwood, ivory, or plastic, held in the hand and clicked together to produce rhythmic sounds.
Castanet is usually specialist / formal in register.
Castanet: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæs.təˈnet/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæs.təˈnet/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CAST your NET to catch the rhythm: CASTANET.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOT APPLICABLE - Highly concrete, referential term.
Practice
Quiz
What are castanets primarily associated with?