Homophony: meaning, definitions and examples

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homophony

 

[ həˈmɒfəni ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

linguistic term

Homophony is a musical texture characterized by simultaneous sounds that are perceived as harmonically and melodically independent.

Examples of usage

  • The choir sang in homophony, with all voices moving together in harmony.
  • In homophony, the melody is supported by a chordal accompaniment.
Context #2 | Noun

linguistic term

In linguistics, homophony refers to words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spellings.

Examples of usage

  • The words 'to', 'too', and 'two' are homophones in English.
  • Homophony can lead to confusion in communication.

Translations

Translations of the word "homophony" in other languages:

🇵🇹 homofonia

🇮🇳 समध्वन्यात्मकता

🇩🇪 Homophonie

🇮🇩 homofoni

🇺🇦 омофонія

🇵🇱 homofonia

🇯🇵 同音異義

🇫🇷 homophonie

🇪🇸 homofonía

🇹🇷 homofoni

🇰🇷 동음이의어

🇸🇦 تجانس صوتي

🇨🇿 homofonie

🇸🇰 homofónia

🇨🇳 同音异义

🇸🇮 homofonija

🇮🇸 hómófónía

🇰🇿 омофония

🇬🇪 ჰომოფონია

🇦🇿 homofoniya

🇲🇽 homofonía

Etymology

The term 'homophony' originates from the Greek words 'homo-' meaning 'same' and 'phone' meaning 'sound'. In music, homophony has been a common texture since the Baroque period, with composers using it to create harmony and contrast. In linguistics, the study of homophones has been important for understanding language structure and communication. Overall, homophony plays a significant role in both music and language.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,499, 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.