alto
/al.to/masculine
alto is the French word for the musical part known as the alto.
The term refers to a musical part. When used in the context of musical instruments, such as a saxophone, alto functions as an adjective that follows the noun, as in saxophone alto.
Meaning: musical part (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /al.to/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word alto is often used to refer specifically to the viola, whereas in English, 'alto' typically refers to a voice type in choral music.
- In certain French musical scores, the term alto can function as a shorthand that directs a musician to play in a specific register, rather than just naming the instrument.
- In a French choir, the alto section is often referred to as les altos, but if you are talking about the instrument, the word remains masculine.
Examples in context
- Tom joue du saxophone baryton et Marie joue du saxophone alto.Tom plays the baritone saxophone and Mary plays the alto saxophone.This sentence shows the use of alto when describing a type of saxophone.Tatoeba #3216599 by Dreamk33, translation #1028205 by CK
- Il joue du violon, mais elle joue de l'alto.He plays the violin, but she plays the viola.
- L'alto est une partie mélodique importante.The alto is an important melodic part.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are discussing their instruments at music school.
- ChloéQuel instrument joues-tu, Hugo ?What instrument do you play, Hugo?
- HugoJe joue de l'alto depuis deux ans.I have been playing the viola for two years.
- ChloéC'est super, j'adore le timbre de l'alto.That's great, I love the tone of the viola.
- HugoMerci Chloé, c'est très gentil.Thank you Chloé, that is very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alto” translations and entries alto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
