sitar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Specialized, Artistic, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “sitar” mean?
A large, long-necked Indian stringed instrument with movable frets, drone strings, and a gourd resonator, plucked with a wire plectrum.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, long-necked Indian stringed instrument with movable frets, drone strings, and a gourd resonator, plucked with a wire plectrum.
The instrument serves as the primary melody instrument in much Indian classical music, most famously associated with Ravi Shankar. In a broader cultural context, it can symbolize Indian musical heritage, the 1960s counterculture (which adopted its sound), or a certain spiritual/contemplative aesthetic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or definition. Spelling is consistent. In the UK, which has a larger South Asian diaspora, exposure to the instrument and its name may be slightly more common in everyday life.
Connotations
Both dialects share primary connotations of Indian culture and 1960s psychedelic rock (e.g., The Beatles).
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, confined to discussions of music, culture, or history. Marginally higher frequency in UK media due to cultural programming (e.g., BBC) and demographic factors.
Grammar
How to Use “sitar” in a Sentence
NOUN + VERB: The sitar drones.VERB + NOUN: to tune/pluck/strike the sitarADJECTIVE + NOUN: a resonant/traditional/Indian sitarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sitar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable. No verb form.
American English
- Not applicable. No verb form.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No adverb form.
American English
- Not applicable. No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- Not a standard adjective. Attributive use only: 'sitar music', 'sitar lesson'.
- Non-standard/rare: 'The piece had a sitar-like quality.'
American English
- Not a standard adjective. Attributive use only: 'sitar music', 'sitar teacher'.
- Non-standard/rare: 'A sitar-infused soundtrack.'
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except perhaps in niche businesses related to musical instruments or cultural tourism.
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and music history contexts. Precise and technical.
Everyday
Used in general conversation about music, culture, travel, or the 1960s. Recognition is high, active use is low.
Technical
Used with precision in musicology. Specifics like 'sympathetic strings' ('tarab'), 'jawari' (bridge curvature), and 'gourd' (tumba) are relevant.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sitar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sitar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sitar”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈsaɪ.tɑːr/ (like 'sight'). Correct is /ˈsiː.tɑːr/ or /sɪˈtɑːr/.
- Spelling: 'citar', 'seetar'.
- Confusion with 'star' in spoken language.
- Using it as a generic term for any string instrument from Asia.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized word. Most English speakers recognize it as the name of an Indian instrument but use it only in specific contexts.
They are very different. A sitar has a long neck, a gourd resonator, movable frets, and many strings (including drone and sympathetic strings). It is plucked with a wire plectrum (mizrab) and is central to Indian classical music.
No, 'sitar' is exclusively a noun. You 'play the sitar'.
Indian classical music, particularly through maestro Ravi Shankar, gained significant popularity in the West during the 1960s. Rock musicians like George Harrison of The Beatles studied the sitar and used it in songs, linking it to the psychedelic and countercultural movement of the era.
A large, long-necked Indian stringed instrument with movable frets, drone strings, and a gourd resonator, plucked with a wire plectrum.
Sitar is usually specialized, artistic, cultural in register.
Sitar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiː.tɑː(r)/ or /sɪˈtɑː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɪˈtɑːr/ or /ˈsiː.tɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is not used idiomatically in standard English.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "She TAR-geted the beautiful notes on her SITAR." (Links 'sitar' to 'sit' and 'tar'.)
Conceptual Metaphor
Not commonly metaphorical. In rare poetic use, its complex, resonant sound might metaphorically represent "woven layers of thought" or "spiritual complexity."
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a sitar's sound?