aria

aria — noun

1. a long solo song performed by one singer within an opera, oratorio, or other lar

1.nounC1
Definition

a long solo song performed by one singer within an opera, oratorio, or other large classical music work; arias usually carry strong emotion and let the singer display vocal skill.

Example

Maria practised the famous aria from Puccini's Tosca every morning before breakfast.

collocation: aria from [opera]

The young soprano sang her first aria with tears in her eyes.

collocation: sing an aria

Common collocations
  • famous aria
  • operatic aria
  • sing an aria
  • perform an aria
  • aria from
Synonyms
  • solo

    any single-singer piece; broader and not tied to opera

  • air

    older or literary word for a tune or melody, sometimes used for a simple aria

Antonyms
  • chorus

    a part sung by many voices together, the opposite of a solo aria

  • duet

    a piece written for two singers rather than one

Grammar Patterns

sing an aria

aria from [opera]

Usage Note

Almost always used in the context of opera or classical music. The word names a self-contained song inside a larger work, so it pairs naturally with verbs of performance (sing, perform, practise) and with a 'from + work' phrase identifying the opera.

Common Mistakes

She sang a short aria pop song at the party.
She sang a short pop song at the party.
'aria' belongs to opera or classical music, not pop or folk songs.
The choir performed an aria together.
The choir performed a chorus together.
an aria is sung by one person, not a group.

Word family

  • operatic
    adjectiveC1
  • opera
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe music for a single voice, but they differ in setting and feel. An 'aria' belongs specifically to opera or large classical works such as oratorios; it is usually long, emotional, and designed to show off the singer's voice. A 'solo' is a much wider word — any moment when one voice or instrument plays alone, in any style from jazz to gospel to musical theatre. An 'air' is an older, gentler word for a melody, often used for early music or simple folk-like tunes. A 'ballad' tells a story and tends to have a steady rhythm, common in pop, rock, and folk music. So you might say 'the soprano's aria moved the audience to tears,' but 'the guitarist played a long solo,' or 'grandfather sang an old Irish air.'

aria ↗solo ↗air ↗ballad

Common collocations

Nouns

  • opera aria
  • soprano aria
  • tenor aria

Phrases

  • sing an aria
  • perform an aria
  • famous aria
  • operatic aria

Prepositions

  • aria from
  • aria in

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

Borrowed into English in the 1700s from Italian, where 'aria' means 'air' or 'tune.' The Italian word came from Latin 'aer,' meaning 'air,' which English also borrowed in a different form. Italian opera was the dominant style across Europe at the time, so the Italian musical term travelled with the art form into English.