Acapella
/ˌɑː kəˈpɛl.ə/noun
Unaccompanied singing, especially by a solo voice or group.
Did you know?The phrase comes from Italian a cappella, literally “in the chapel,” referring to singing in church style without instrumental accompaniment.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cappella
“a small cloak; later, a chapel or shrine”
Medieval Latin
Latin
a cappella
“in the manner of the chapel; in church style”
Italian
Italian
a cappella
“in the chapel; without instrumental accompaniment”
18th–19th Century
English
a cappella
“sung without instrumental accompaniment”
Modern English
English
acapella
“unaccompanied vocal music”