word
melisma
meh-LIZ-muh
mɛˈlɪzməListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
melisma
Sounds like
Say 'meh-LIZ-muh'.
Dictionary meaning
The singing of a single syllable of text while moving through several different notes.
History and origin
Greek — 'melisma' (song, melody).
Examples
- Gospel singing is rich with melisma — one word stretched across soaring runs of notes.
Common mispronunciations
meh-LIS-muhMEL-iz-muh
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