Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tremolo

/ˈtrɛməloʊ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.42 in modern English

Syllables: tremo-lo
IPA: /ˈtrɛməloʊ/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A rapid repetition of the same note, or an alternation between two or more notes. It can also be intended to mean a rapid and repetitive variation in pitch for the duration of a note. It is notated by a strong diagonal bar across the note stem, or a detached bar for a set of notes (or stemless notes).

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A variation in the volume of a note or a chord, evoking a tremor or quiver.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The device in an organ that produces a tremolo effect.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"It commenced with a slow crescendo, so irresistibly lugubrious that two of our dogs at once raised their heads and swelled their voices into a responsive tremolo, which may have been heard and appreciated by their distant relatives."

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian tremolo, first-person present indicative of tremolare (“to shake, to tremble”). Origin: 1715-25.

Origin

Source language: Italian

Word Breakdown

Root: *trem-, tremolo

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈtrɛməloʊ/
British English: /ˈtrɛmələʊ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

tremolos (plural)

Derived Forms

tremolist

Phrases

tremolo picking

Questions

How do you pronounce tremolo?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtrɛməloʊ/.
What does tremolo mean?: A rapid repetition of the same note, or an alternation between two or more notes. It can also be intended to mean a rapid and repetitive variation in pitch for the duration of a note. It is notated by a strong diagonal bar across the note stem, or a detached bar for a set of notes (or stemless notes).
Where does tremolo come from?: It is traced to Italian.

How to pronounce tremolo

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tremolo”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtrɛməloʊ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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