soprano

American  

[suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh] / səˈpræn oʊ, -ˈprɑ noʊ /

noun

sopranos plural

1. the uppermost part or voice.

2. the highest singing voice in women and boys.

3. a part for such a voice.

4. a singer with such a voice.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to a soprano; having the compass of a soprano.

soprano British  

/ səˈprɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult female voice, having a range approximately from middle C to the A a thirteenth above it

2. the voice of a young boy before puberty

3. a singer with such a voice

4. the highest part of a piece of harmony

5. 1. the highest or second highest instrument in a family of instruments

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soprano saxophone

---

soprano Cultural  

1. The highest range of the female singing voice. (Compare alto and mezzo soprano.)

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sopranos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of soprano

1720–30; < Italian: literally, what is above, high, equivalent to sopra (< Latin suprā above) + -ano adj. suffix

Explanation

The opera performer with the highest voice is a soprano. A soprano is usually a woman, and she can hit the high notes. A woman who sings at the highest register is one kind of soprano, and her singing voice itself can also be called a soprano. Sometimes high-voiced male singers are described this way too, although it's more common to call them countertenors, or to describe their singing voices as falsetto. Soprano is an Italian word that means "the treble in music," or "high," from sopra, or "above."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

soprano sopranos

The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects-laden sound and the soprano vocals of Elizabeth Fraser.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

As Juliet, Emma Marhefka’s lyric soprano was best in dramatic moments, such as Act 4’s poison aria; as Romeo, Leonardo Sánchez tended to overcook his tenor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

With her high, bright soprano, Katrina Galka was a persuasive Clara—you believed in her emotional blossoming; tenor Roy Hage needed to be more of a crooner as Fabrizio.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

The eight-week season will feature 86 concerts in London, Gateshead, Bristol, Middlesborough, Sunderland and Mold, with appearances by percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, soprano Louise Alder and pianist Yuja Wang.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

She was in wonderful spirits, Mietje said, singing hymns and songs in her high sweet soprano.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Dame Felicity Lott, one of Britain's best-loved sopranos, has died at the age of 79.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

It is suitable for young operaphiles-in-training and budding sopranos and directors alike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

In their study, the scientists showed that the high-frequency sounds of operatic sopranos are produced with the same principle than speech and most other forms of singing.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2024

“Somebody said she’s the new Nina Stemme. I disagree. She’s the new Nilsson,” he said in a comparison with Birgit Nilsson, regarded as one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century.

From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2024

Figure 6.31: Moving tune up to E minor puts it in a better key for sopranos.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• singer