a cappella
a cappella — adjective
1. relating to music that uses only human voices, with no musical instruments playi
relating to music that uses only human voices, with no musical instruments playing at the same time
The choir sang an a cappella folk song, making every voice clearly heard.
a cappella + version — describes an arrangement
Adaeze enjoys a cappella music because the different voices blend so naturally together.
a cappella + music — attributive adjective
The audience watched in silence while the choir sang an a cappella hymn arrangement.
Minho downloaded a cappella tracks from VoiceLab, a group that records pop-song covers.
- unaccompanied
broader term — can apply to solo instrumental music too, not just voices
- voice-only
informal synonym commonly used in program notes or informal descriptions
- accompanied
performed with instruments
- instrumental
played on instruments, not sung
文法句型
a cappella + [noun] — describes a type of music or performance
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense appears before a noun referring to music or a performance (a cappella version, a cappella music, a cappella arrangement). It is not used predicatively (*The music is a cappella). The predicative use belongs to the adverb sense.
常見錯誤
2. describes a singing group whose members use only their voices and never play ins
describes a singing group whose members use only their voices and never play instruments like drums or keyboards
Valentina joined an a cappella group at university and quickly made many close friends.
a cappella group — describes a singing ensemble
The a cappella choir from Kyoto won first prize at the international competition.
Samir's sister is the director of a famous a cappella ensemble based in Toronto.
Luca tried out for the school's a cappella club but felt too nervous to sing.
- voice-only ensemble
more formal term sometimes used in classical music contexts
文法句型
a cappella + [group noun] — describes a singing ensemble
用法筆記
Only used attributively before a noun for a group (a cappella group, a cappella choir, a cappella ensemble). Do not use this sense predicatively — instead say 'the group sings a cappella' using the adverb sense.
a cappella — adverb
1. in a way that uses only voices for music, without a guitar, piano, or other inst
in a way that uses only voices for music, without a guitar, piano, or other instrument joining in
The students decided to sing the national anthem a cappella at the morning ceremony.
sing + a cappella — adverb after verb
Naoko arranged the jazz tune to be performed a cappella by the vocal group.
Mark can sing a cappella for a long time without losing the correct pitch.
The quartet from Seoul performed entirely a cappella, using only voices to create rich harmonies.
- without accompaniment
more formal phrase that can apply to any instrument or voice
- with accompaniment
performed together with instruments
文法句型
[verb] + a cappella — modifies how a song is performed
用法筆記
Always follows the verb it modifies (sing a cappella, perform a cappella). Unlike the adjective senses, this is used predicatively: 'the song was performed a cappella' or 'they sang a cappella'.