hootenanny: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, mainly AmE, slightly dated.
Quick answer
What does “hootenanny” mean?
An informal social gathering or concert featuring folk music and singing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal social gathering or concert featuring folk music and singing.
Can refer to a lively party or gathering, especially with a rustic or communal feel; historically, a term used for an unspecified object or gadget, equivalent to 'thingamajig'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American term. In the UK, it is understood due to cultural exposure but rarely used actively. British speakers are more likely to use 'folk club night' or 'sing-along'.
Connotations
In AmE, connotes grassroots, participatory, often acoustic music events, potentially with a nostalgic or revivalist feel. In BrE, it may sound like a quaint Americanism.
Frequency
Most frequent in AmE, though even there it peaked in the 1960s. Rare in contemporary BrE outside of historical or niche musical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hootenanny” in a Sentence
[Host/organise] a hootenanny.The [town/campus] has a hootenanny every [week/month].Let's go to the hootenanny.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hootenanny” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Extremely rare) We'll hootenanny the night away.
American English
- They decided to hootenanny every Friday at the coffee shop.
adjective
British English
- He had a sort of hootenanny vibe about him.
American English
- The bar has a hootenanny feel on weekends.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or ethnomusicological contexts.
Everyday
Used by older generations or folk music enthusiasts; otherwise rare.
Technical
No standard technical usage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hootenanny”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hootenanny”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hootenanny”
- Misspelling: 'hootananny', 'hootennany'.
- Using it as a general term for any loud party, losing the folk music association.
- Assuming it is a modern slang term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's dated. It's associated with the American folk music revival of the 1950s-60s. You might hear it used nostalgically or in specific folk music circles.
Historically, yes. It was used as a nonsense word for an unspecified gadget ('pass me that hootenanny'), but this usage is now archaic and humorous.
It is overwhelmingly American in origin and primary usage. British English has borrowed it culturally but does not use it actively.
A 'hootenanny' implies folk music, is often more structured as a scheduled event, and emphasizes group singing. A 'jam session' is more improvisational, can be any genre (jazz, rock), and focuses on instrumental interplay.
An informal social gathering or concert featuring folk music and singing.
Hootenanny is usually informal, mainly ame, slightly dated. in register.
Hootenanny: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhuː.tənˈæn.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhuː.t̬ənˌæn.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a thing/Not care] a hootenanny (archaic, based on 'hoot').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine owls ('hoot') and a man named Danny at a noisy folk music party: Hoot-'n'-Danny.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A SHARED MUSICAL SPACE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of a 'hootenanny'?