gittern: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (obsolete/historical term)Historical, Academic, Literary, Specialized (musicology)
Quick answer
What does “gittern” mean?
A historical, plucked, stringed musical instrument of the lute family, with a rounded back and a fretted neck, popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical, plucked, stringed musical instrument of the lute family, with a rounded back and a fretted neck, popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Any instrument considered a precursor or variant of the Renaissance guitar; occasionally used poetically for a small, harp-like instrument.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes medieval or Renaissance settings, scholarly discussions of early music.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both contemporary British and American English. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or academic publications due to regional medieval studies traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “gittern” in a Sentence
[Subject] plays a/the gittern.A/the gittern [verb] (e.g., resonates, accompanies).The sound of a/the gittern.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, musicological, and cultural studies texts discussing medieval and Renaissance instruments.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in organology (study of musical instruments) and by early music performers and instrument makers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gittern”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gittern”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gittern”
- Spelling as 'guittern' or 'gittern' (only one 't' in the middle).
- Pronouncing it like 'guitar' (/'ɡɪtɑːr/). Correct is /'ɡɪtən/ or /'ɡɪtərn/.
- Using it as a synonym for a modern folk guitar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The gittern is a historical predecessor and relative of the modern guitar. It is smaller, has a different body shape (often rounded back), and was used centuries before the classical guitar developed.
The gittern was most popular in Europe from the late Middle Ages (around the 13th century) through the Renaissance (16th century).
Yes, but only in performances of early music by specialist ensembles and musicians who use historically accurate reproductions of the instrument.
The word fell out of common use as the instrument itself was replaced by later developments like the Renaissance guitar and the Baroque guitar, which eventually evolved into the modern guitar. Its use is now confined to historical and academic contexts.
A historical, plucked, stringed musical instrument of the lute family, with a rounded back and a fretted neck, popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Gittern is usually historical, academic, literary, specialized (musicology) in register.
Gittern: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪtən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪtərn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'GITtern' is like a small GITar for medieval baRN dances.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY (the word acts as a linguistic artifact from that 'country').
Practice
Quiz
The gittern is most closely related to which family of instruments?