coloratura: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Specialised
Quick answer
What does “coloratura” mean?
Elaborate ornamentation and fast, agile runs in vocal music, especially opera.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Elaborate ornamentation and fast, agile runs in vocal music, especially opera.
1) A singer, typically a soprano, specializing in such elaborate, ornamental singing. 2) By extension, any elaborate or showy ornamentation, display, or performance in a non-musical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling.
Connotations
Identical connotations of high artistry, technical skill, and ornate display.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in both varieties within musical and educated contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “coloratura” in a Sentence
The [singer] delivered/executed/performed the coloratura [with precision].Her [role] is famous for its demanding/ornate coloratura.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coloratura” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This passage should be coloraturaed with light, precise staccatos.
American English
- She coloraturaed her way through the cadenza effortlessly.
adverb
British English
- She sang coloratura-style, with dazzling agility.
American English
- The passage is performed coloratura, requiring great flexibility.
adjective
British English
- She has a formidable coloratura technique.
American English
- The role is a famous coloratura showcase.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except perhaps metaphorically in a very creative context.
Academic
Used in musicology, performance studies, and cultural criticism.
Everyday
Extremely rare, limited to discussions of classical music.
Technical
Core term in vocal pedagogy, opera criticism, and music theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coloratura”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coloratura”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coloratura”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈkʌlərˌtʃʊrə/ or /koʊˈlɔːrətʃərə/.
- Spelling error: 'colouratura' (UK influence is incorrect; the musical term is Italian-derived and spelled with 'o').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'soprano' rather than a specific *type* of soprano or singing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily a style of singing (ornate, agile passages). It is secondarily used to label a singer (e.g., 'coloratura soprano') who specializes in that style.
Yes, but it's a metaphorical extension. It can describe any similarly elaborate and showy display, e.g., 'the coloratura of her prose'.
They are often used interchangeably. However, 'fioritura' (Italian for 'flourish') can refer more specifically to the written ornamental passages, while 'coloratura' (Italian for 'colouring') often implies the overall style and technique of performing them.
Always 'coloratura'. It is a direct loan from Italian, and its spelling is not anglicised to the British 'colour' form.
Elaborate ornamentation and fast, agile runs in vocal music, especially opera.
Coloratura is usually formal / specialised in register.
Coloratura: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒlərəˈtjʊərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkʌlərəˈtʊrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable; the word itself is a technical term.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a singer's voice adding COLOUR to an aria with a high-pitched (high 'a') tour of notes: COLOR-A-TOUR-A.
Conceptual Metaphor
VOCAL MUSIC IS DECORATIVE ART (ornamentation, flourishes). SKILL IS PHYSICAL VIRTUOSITY (pyrotechnics, feats).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'coloratura' MOST appropriately used?