Fagott
/faˈɡɔt/neuter
The German word for bassoon is Fagott.
The term refers to the musical instrument in the woodwind family.
Meaning: musical instrument in the woodwind family (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The standard plural of Fagott is Fagotte. In colloquial speech, you might occasionally hear the form Fagotts, although this is less common in formal musical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
/faˈɡɔt/
Did you know?
- In German slang, the word Fagott has become a highly offensive slur. Musicians must be careful with the context and tone when using the term in non-musical settings.
- The word Fagott also describes a bundle of sticks tied together for fuel. This usage reflects the instrument's appearance as a series of wooden tubes bundled together.
- In German orchestral circles, the Fagott is affectionately known as the 'clown of the orchestra' because its unique timbre can easily produce comical or staccato effects.
Examples in context
- Tom übt täglich Fagott.Tom practices playing the bassoon every day.This sentence is useful for describing someone practicing the instrument using Fagott.Tatoeba #1934095 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1024335 by CK
- Vivaldi hat viel Fagottmusik geschrieben.Vivaldi wrote a lot of music for the bassoon.This sentence is useful for discussing music written for the Fagott.Tatoeba #4200818 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4198314 by CK
- Ich spiele nicht mehr so oft Fagott wie früher.I don't play the bassoon as much as I used to.This sentence is useful for talking about the frequency of playing the Fagott.Tatoeba #2051409 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2050677 by CK
- Hast du schon einmal ein Fagott gespielt?Have you ever played a bassoon?
- Die Bassklarinette und das Fagott gehören zur gleichen Instrumentenfamilie.The bass clarinet and the bassoon belong to the same instrument family.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are looking at a musical instrument in a shop.
- LukasIst das ein Fagott?Is that a bassoon?
- HannahJa, das ist ein sehr gutes Fagott.Yes, that is a very good bassoon.
- LukasEs sieht wirklich interessant aus.It looks really interesting.
- HannahMöchtest du es einmal ausprobieren?Would you like to try it out sometime?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bassoon” translations and entries Fagott, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
