chanson

noun

chan·​son shän-ˈsȯn How to pronounce chanson (audio)
-ˈsän,
shäⁿ-ˈsōⁿ How to pronounce chanson (audio)
plural chansons
shän-ˈsȯnz,
-ˈsänz,
shäⁿ-ˈsōⁿ(z) How to pronounce chanson (audio)
: song
specifically : a music-hall or cabaret song

Examples of chanson in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There’s a little Edith Piaf in Peyroux’s singing as well, evocations of the famous French cabaret and chanson vocalist. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Mélusine is half French chanson/half idiosyncratic art song, which in its course reveals its own soaring majesty. Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 June 2023 The opening reminds me of the essential French genre the chanson, which people associate with someone like Edith Piaf. Charlie Harding, Vulture, 5 May 2023 Mélusine, Cécile McLorin Salvant’s new album (released on March 24th), is half-French chanson/half-idiosyncratic art song that, when taken as a whole, reveals itself to be a creature of soaring majesty as well. Steve Hochman, SPIN, 28 Mar. 2023 The two released the 1985 album Our Garden Needs Its Flowers, a sublime collection of acoustic folk music with shades of African pop and French chanson. Jon Freeman, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2023 Meow Meow has performed around the world and is particularly known for her interpretations of the Weimar repertoire and French chanson. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Jan. 2022 Her song dusts off the French chanson, recalling singers like Edith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg. New York Times, 23 May 2021 Écoutez dès maintenant les 3 nouvelles chansons de Céline : Imperfections, Lying Down et Courage. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 18 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chanson.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin cantion-, cantio, from canere

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chanson was circa 1513

Dictionary Entries Near chanson

Cite this Entry

“Chanson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chanson. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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