troubadour

American  

[troo-buh-dawr, -dohr, -door] / ˈtru bəˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr, -ˌdʊər /

noun

troubadours plural

1. one of a class of medieval lyric poets who flourished principally in southern France from the 11th to 13th centuries, and wrote songs and poems of a complex metrical form in langue d'oc, chiefly on themes of courtly love.

2. any wandering singer or minstrel.

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troubadour British  

/ ˈtruːbəˌdʊə /

noun

1. any of a class of lyric poets who flourished principally in Provence and N Italy from the 11th to the 13th centuries, writing chiefly on courtly love in complex metric form

2. a singer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• troubadours
  plural

Etymology

Origin of troubadour

First recorded in 1720–30; from French, from Provençal trobador, equivalent to trob(ar) “to find, compose” ( cf. trover) + -ador (from Latin -ātor -ator

Explanation

When we think of a troubadour what usually comes to mind is a lovestruck fellow serenading his sweetheart and hoping she'll appear on her balcony. The word troubadour comes from Provence in southern France, where trobar (related to modern French trouver) means "find, invent, compose in verse." The art of serenading one's love comes from the French tradition of courtly love that began in the Middle Ages. Things have changed, though, since the days of the wandering minstrel or jongleur. Our wooing is more private, our entertainment more public, and our terminology has become more practical: We now call our troubadours "singer-songwriters" or "recording artists."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

troubadour troubadours

“Right now I’m a solo artist, which is kind of fun. I’m up there like a folk troubadour, singing the songs, reading from the book, and making some well-timed joke,” he told Salon.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026

More affecting is Malta's elegant and sentimental ballad Bella, sung by moustachioed troubadour Aidan.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

Over the past year, the shaggy-haired guitarist and singer has emerged as a modern-day protest troubadour, collaborating with Baez, selling out concert halls, and soaring to rarified fame on social media.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

In October, Texas troubadour Charley Crockett, who has derided the trap-inflected “bro country” coming out of Nashville, played a solo set at Lucinda’s before moving uptown for a three-night residency at Café Carlyle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025

At least when it's asked by a troubadour.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Taylor says he is among the last of a generation of troubadours who experienced and wrote about the "romance of the road" from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

How many times did "Gilmore Girls" have a show, a tiny village with not one but multiple troubadours and Miss Patty's prolific dance studio?

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2022

Otherwise, the movie floats along pleasantly enough for much of its 137 minutes, with nice period detail, such as a scene with a colorful band of troubadours.

From New York Times ● Nov. 11, 2021

The various troubadours eager to get a song in were well placed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2021

This was the era of the troubadours and trouveres: skilled, far-travelled poet-singer-songwriters whose fame was built on songs of ‘refined’ love.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• crooner
• minstrel
• songwriter