a cappella

English

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• a capella
• acapella

Etymology

From Italian alla cappella (“in the manner of the [Sistine] chapel”), referring to non-instrumental choirs; from Latin a-, ad, "to", + cappella, "chapel".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌæ.kəˈpɛl.ə/, /ˌæ.kæˈpɛl.ə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɑ kə.ˈpɛl.ə/
• Rhymes: -ɛlə

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

a cappella (not comparable)

1. (music) In a manner of a choir with no instrumental accompaniment; literally "in the style of the (Sistine) Chapel (in Rome)"; such as a musical Mass done a cappella.[First attested in the late 19th century.]

   Groups of teens singing a cappella on street corners got recording contracts.

2. (obsolete, music) In alla breve time.

Translations

performed by a choir with no instrumental accompaniment

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 無伴奏, 无伴奏 (wúbànzòu)

• Dutch: a capella (nl)
• Estonian: a cappella (et)
• Finnish: a cappella
• French: a cappella (fr)
• German: a cappella (de)
• Italian: a cappella
• Japanese: アカペラに (akapera ni)

• Korean: 반주 없게 (banju eopge)
• Latin: ad sacellum
• Lithuanian: kapela
• Norwegian: a cappella (no)
• Portuguese: a cappella, a capela (pt)
• Russian: а капелла (ru) (a kapɛ́lla)
• Spanish: a cappella
• Swedish: a cappella (sv)

a time indication, equivalent to alla breve

Adjective

a cappella (not comparable)

1. (music) singing solely or mainly without instrumental accompaniment.[First attested in the late 19th century.]

   An a cappella group sang during the wedding reception.

2. (obsolete, music) alla breve.

See also

• cappella
• chapel

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Portuguese

Alternative forms

• a capela

Adverb

a cappella (not comparable)

1. (music) a cappella (performed by a choir with no instrumental accompaniment)

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Spanish

Adverb

a cappella (not comparable)

1. a cappella