ocarina

IPA/ˌɒkəˈriːnə/
IPA/ˌɑːkəˈriːnə/

ocarina — noun

  • ocarinasingular
  • ocarinasplural

1. An ocarina is a small instrument you blow into to make music. It has a short mou

1.nounC2
Definition

An ocarina is a small instrument you blow into to make music. It has a short mouthpiece, a rounded body, and holes that you cover with your fingers.

Example

Jin lifted the ocarina to his lips before the concert began.

collocation: lift the ocarina to your lips

Meera bought a clay ocarina at the music shop near school.

collocation: clay ocarina

Common collocations
  • play the ocarina
  • blow an ocarina
  • clay ocarina
  • ocarina song
  • ocarina player
Synonyms
  • vessel flute

    A technical music term for this enclosed kind of wind instrument.

Usage Note

Often used with play or blow. When talking about learning the instrument, English speakers usually say play the ocarina or learn the ocarina.

Common Mistakes

My sister plays the recorder in the folk band.
My sister plays the ocarina in the folk band.
A recorder is a different wind instrument with a long tube shape.

Etymology

ItalianEnglish

The word 'ocarina' came into English from Italian in the late 19th century. It goes back to Italian 'oca', meaning 'goose', a name linked to the instrument's rounded shape.