sixteenth note: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2technical, formal, informal
Quick answer
What does “sixteenth note” mean?
A musical note with a duration equal to one-sixteenth of a whole note, typically represented by a filled oval with a double stem and two flags.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical note with a duration equal to one-sixteenth of a whole note, typically represented by a filled oval with a double stem and two flags.
A short duration in music; can metaphorically describe something very brief or fast-paced in other contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'sixteenth note' is American English. The British equivalent is 'semiquaver'.
Connotations
No difference in connotation; both are purely technical terms with identical meaning.
Frequency
'Semiquaver' is standard in all UK music contexts. 'Sixteenth note' is standard in all US and Canadian music contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sixteenth note” in a Sentence
[Verb] a sixteenth notea [adjective] sixteenth notesixteenth notes in [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixteenth note” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You must semiquaver that passage cleanly.
- The composer has semiquavered the melodic line.
American English
- You must sixteenth-note that passage cleanly.
- The composer has sixteenth-noted the melodic line.
adverb
British English
- The melody moved semiquaver-fast.
- She played the run semiquaver-quick.
American English
- The melody moved sixteenth-note fast.
- She played the run sixteenth-note quick.
adjective
British English
- The semiquaver passage was challenging.
- He has a precise semiquaver technique.
American English
- The sixteenth-note passage was challenging.
- He has a precise sixteenth-note technique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically in creative industries to describe rapid iteration.
Academic
Common in musicology, theory, and performance studies papers.
Everyday
Used by musicians, students, and music enthusiasts. Uncommon in general conversation.
Technical
Core terminology in music notation, digital audio workstations, and sequencing software.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixteenth note”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sixteenth note”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixteenth note”
- Writing '16th note' in formal musical scores (use the symbol).
- Confusing it with a thirty-second note.
- Pronouncing 'sixteenth' as 'six-teen-th' (should be 'six-teenth').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sixteen. A whole note can be divided into 16 equal parts, each being a sixteenth note.
No, the standard term in British English and much of the Commonwealth is 'semiquaver'. 'Sixteenth note' is an Americanism.
It is a filled-in oval note head with a straight stem and two flags (or beams connecting it to other notes).
Yes, though infrequently. It can metaphorically describe anything very brief, fast, or finely subdivided, e.g., 'His thoughts came in sixteenth notes.'
A musical note with a duration equal to one-sixteenth of a whole note, typically represented by a filled oval with a double stem and two flags.
Sixteenth note is usually technical, formal, informal in register.
Sixteenth note: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ nəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtinθ noʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “life moves in sixteenth notes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of slicing a pizza into 16 slices; one slice is a sixteenth note. Or, remember that two eighth notes make a quarter note, and two sixteenth notes make an eighth note.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MUSICAL DURATION (e.g., 'My week was a frantic series of sixteenth notes').
Practice
Quiz
What is the British English term for a 'sixteenth note'?