Dodecaphonic
/ˌdoʊ.də.kəˈfɑː.nɪk/noun
Relating to a musical system based on the twelve semitones of the chromatic scale, especially twelve-tone composition.
Did you know?Dodecaphonic comes from the same Greek number-root as words like dodecahedron, while its second half traces to phōnē, the ancient root behind many words for voice and sound.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
dōdeka
“twelve”
Ancient Greek
Gk
phōnē
“voice, sound”
19th Century
French
dodécaphonique
“relating to a twelve-tone musical system”
Early 20th Century
German
dodekaphonisch
“relating to twelve-tone composition”
Modern English
English
dodecaphonic
“relating to twelve-tone music”
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