chanson

American  

[shan-suhn, shahn-sawn] / ˈʃæn sən, ʃɑ̃ˈsɔ̃ /

noun

plural

chansons

1. any of several types of song with French lyrics, occurring from the Middle Ages to the present in a variety of musical styles.

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Etymology

Origin of chanson

1595–1605; < French < Latin cantiōn- (stem of cantiō ) song; see canzone

Example Sentences

Fizzing with freedom and joy, it combines elements of chanson and French-Caribbean zouk, and looks set for a top 10 placing.

From BBC • May 9, 2025

As with other yé-yé singers, Hardy’s music blended mid-1960s bubblegum pop, groovy guitar lines and France’s romantic chanson tradition to create sticky-sweet love songs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2024

Finland’s Käärijä was a crowd-pleaser in the semifinals with his pop-metal party tune “Cha Cha Cha,” and Canadian singer La Zarra, competing for France, is also highly ranked for her Edith Piaf-esque chanson “Évidemment.”

From Seattle Times • May 12, 2023

To take one example, the French chanson “Maman, dites-moi,” a staple of midcentury Met Opera stars like the soprano Bidu Sayao.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2022

Then there was the sound of chanson music and accordions and lots of clinking wineglasses as they celebrated.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness