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Choirboy: meaning, definitions and examples

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choirboy

 

[ ˈkwaɪəˌbɔɪ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

religious, youth

A choirboy is a young male singer who sings in a choir, particularly in a church setting. Traditionally, choirboys are part of a boys' choir and are often trained in vocal music. Their role includes not only singing during religious services but also participating in special events and performances. This position has a long-standing history in various Christian denominations, emphasizing the contribution of youthful voices to worship.

Synonyms

chorister, singer, vocalist

Examples of usage

  • The choirboy sang beautifully during the Christmas service.
  • Many choirboys attend special training camps to improve their singing skills.
  • The choirboy was chosen to perform a solo at the concert.

Translations

Translations of the word "choirboy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 menino do coro

🇮🇳 गायन करने वाला लड़का

🇩🇪 Chorknabe

🇮🇩 anak paduan suara

🇺🇦 хорист

🇵🇱 chłopiec chóralny

🇯🇵 合唱団の少年

🇫🇷 garçon de choeur

🇪🇸 niño de coro

🇹🇷 koro çocuğu

🇰🇷 합창단 소년

🇸🇦 صبي جوقة

🇨🇿 chlapec zboru

🇸🇰 chlapec zboru

🇨🇳 合唱团男孩

🇸🇮 deček zbora

🇮🇸 kórstrákur

🇰🇿 хор баласы

🇬🇪 ქორისტი ბიჭი

🇦🇿 xor uşağı

🇲🇽 niño de coro

Etymology

The term 'choirboy' originates from the Middle Ages, derived from the Old French 'coer' meaning 'choir', and the Middle English suffix '-boy', referring specifically to young boys who sing in church choirs. Historically, boys sang in choirs as part of their training, often starting very young, especially in religious institutions where their unbroken voices were prized. The practice of employing boys in choral music can be traced back to ancient times, including instances in Jewish temple singing. As choral music evolved through the Renaissance and into the Baroque period, the role of choirboys became formalized in church music tradition, establishing boys' choirs as integral to the musical liturgy. Today, the term still reflects this historical context, highlighting both the significance of young male singers in choral arrangements and the longstanding tradition of music in religious worship.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,010, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.