noun
chanson
shahn-SOHN/ʃˈɑnsˌɔn/
A French song.
The singer performs a chanson in the Paris cafe with accordion accompaniment.
Etymology
Latin cantio named a song, a composition intended for singing. English uses chanson more narrowly for a French song, especially a lyrical one.
In context
so that it was well perhaps that there was so small and so unprejudiced an audience to the Norman-French chanson, which he sang in a high reedy voice
More examples
- Her album includes several traditional chansons.
- He studied the words of the chanson before singing.
- The cafe hosts an evening of chanson.
Forms
chanson · chansons
Similar words
- song
- Song is the general English term; chanson specifies a French song or associated tradition.