a cappella

[ah kuh-pel-uh, ah kahp-pel-lah]

adverb

Music.

1. Sometimes acappella without instrumental accompaniment.

2. in the style of church or chapel music.

a cappella

/ ɑː kəˈpɛlə /

adjective

1. music without instrumental accompaniment

a cappella

1. Choral singing performed without instruments. The expression means “in chapel style” in Italian. Centuries ago, religious music composed for use in chapels — which, unlike large churches, had no organs — was usually for voices only.

Word History and Origins

Origin of a cappella¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Italian: literally, “in the manner of a chapel (choir)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of a cappella¹

Italian: literally, according to (the style of the) chapel

Example Sentences

He introduced himself to his freshman dorm mates by performing one of his compositions, “7 Minutes in Heaven,” “a cappella, acting and singing all the parts as they sat on the bed facing him, gob-smacked.”

From Los Angeles Times

“When I Needed You” climaxed with a moving a cappella singalong that had virtually the entire crowd belting Jepsen’s lines about discovering how far is too far to go to accommodate a selfish partner.

From Los Angeles Times

“You pull it out of the piano, you put it on the harp, it’s still working, you take out of the harp, you sing it a cappella, it’s still working, good song.”

From Salon

In front of a red velvet curtain with smudged mascara and a crystal teardrop on her cheek, Del Rio delivered a moving a cappella performance of “Llorando,” a Spanish-language take of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.”

From Los Angeles Times

It plays softly in the background, and then Bono sings it, solo, a cappella.

From Salon