choir
B1neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
An organised group of singers, typically performing religious music in a church.
The part of a church where the choir sits; more broadly, any organised group of singers or musicians, or a group of similar instruments in an orchestra.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a collective group, not an individual singer. While strongly associated with Christian churches, the term is also standard for secular singing groups (e.g., a university choir).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and meaning are identical. Pronunciation differs significantly (see IPA). The architectural term 'quire' (medieval spelling for the choir area) is obsolete in AmE but occasionally seen in BrE historical contexts.
Connotations
Identical. Strongly associated with traditional and religious music in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to the prominence of cathedral choirs and the choral tradition in state schools.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the choir of + PLACE (the choir of St. Paul's)sing in/with a choirconduct/direct a choirVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “preach to the choir”
- “lead from the choir stalls (BrE, rare, meaning to lead from a secondary position)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in musicology, religious studies, and architectural history.
Everyday
Common when discussing community activities, school events, or church services.
Technical
Specific use in architecture (choir aisle, choir arch) and music (choir organ, choir pitch).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The birds seemed to choir in the dawn light. (poetic/literary)
American English
- The protesters choir their demands in unison. (rare/poetic)
adjective
British English
- The choir master is looking for new members.
American English
- The choir director announced the spring concert.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I sing in the school choir.
- We go to choir practice every Thursday.
- The church choir performed a beautiful hymn during the service.
- She has been a member of the local community choir for five years.
- The cathedral choir's rendition of the evensong was acoustically perfect in the Gothic space.
- Despite his arguments, he was merely preaching to the choir, as everyone already agreed with him.
- The architectural design separates the nave from the choir with an intricately carved screen.
- The brass choir within the orchestra provided a majestic fanfare to open the symphony.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A choir requires a 'quire' of singers (old spelling for a set of 24 sheets of paper, suggesting many people). Think: 'Choir' has the same odd 'ch' sound as 'chorus'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GROUP IS A UNIFIED BODY (the choir sang as one).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'хор' (chorus/orchestra pit) in a theatre context. 'Choir' is for singers.
- The architectural meaning (part of a church) is often 'алтарь' in Russian, but more accurately the space before it.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing the 'ch' as /tʃ/ (like 'chair'). Correct: /kw/.
- Using as a countable noun for a single singer: 'He is a choir' is wrong. He is a 'choir member' or 'chorister'.
- Spelling: confusion with 'quire'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the standard British English pronunciation of 'choir'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the Old French 'cuer', which derived from Latin 'chorus'. The spelling was later changed to reflect the Latin origin, but the pronunciation retained the older /kw/ sound from French.
A 'choir' is often a smaller, more dedicated group, typically associated with sacred music or serious repertoire. A 'chorus' is generally larger, associated with operas, musicals, or large-scale works (e.g., a symphony chorus). The terms can overlap.
Yes, in an orchestral context, a 'choir' can refer to a section of similar instruments (e.g., the brass choir) playing together in a harmonious way, analogous to a vocal group.
It is an archaic spelling of 'choir', now used only in specific contexts like historical texts or, rarely, in British English to refer to the architectural area. It is also a separate word for a set of 24 sheets of paper.