mordent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Specialized (specifically Music)
Quick answer
What does “mordent” mean?
A rapid alternation between a principal note and the note immediately below it in music.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rapid alternation between a principal note and the note immediately below it in music.
In music theory, a melodic ornament or embellishment used to decorate a note, characterized by a rapid single or multiple alternation with an auxiliary note below. In the historical context of Italian rhetoric, it can metaphorically refer to a 'biting' or sharp expression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. The terminology is standard in Western music theory globally.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects. It is a term of art within the musical community.
Grammar
How to Use “mordent” in a Sentence
The piece [contains/features] several [mordents].The violinist [executed/played] the [mordent] flawlessly.A [mordent] is [indicated/notated] by a specific squiggle.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mordent” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The score indicates the cellist should mordent on the F sharp.
American English
- In bar 12, you need to mordent the quarter note.
adjective
British English
- The mordent figure adds a Baroque flair to the phrase.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in academic papers and textbooks on music history, theory, and performance practice.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used in everyday conversation outside of musicians discussing their craft.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Found in sheet music, musical instructions, and discussions among performers, composers, and musicologists.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mordent”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mordent”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mordent”
- Confusing the 'upper' and 'lower' mordent. Pronouncing it as /mɔːrˈdɛnt/ (emphasis on second syllable). Using it to describe any musical trill or ornament, when it is a specific type.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A trill involves a rapid alternation between the principal note and the note above for an extended duration. A standard (lower) mordent is typically a single, quicker alternation with the note below.
It comes from the Italian 'mordente', meaning 'biting', from the Latin 'mordēre' (to bite). This metaphorically describes the 'biting' effect of the quick auxiliary note.
No. It is a highly specialized term confined almost exclusively to the field of music. A general English speaker will likely never encounter it.
It is typically notated with a short squiggle (~ or a specific zigzag symbol) placed directly above the note it modifies. The exact symbol can vary slightly depending on the historical period of the music.
A rapid alternation between a principal note and the note immediately below it in music.
Mordent is usually technical / specialized (specifically music) in register.
Mordent: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːd(ə)nt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːrd(ə)nt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is purely technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a note being gently BIT by the note below it – that 'biting' (from Latin *mordere*) action is the quick, sharp alternation of a MORDENT.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MORDENT IS AN EMBELLISHMENT (primary). A MORDENT IS A BITE (etymological, rare).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'lower mordent'?