alto
/al.to/masculine
The English word 'viola' is translated into French as alto. Wiktionary also lists violon alto.
Meaning: music: stringed instrument of the violin family (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alto | /al.to/ | masculine |
| violon alto | /vjɔ.lɔ̃ al.to/ | masculine |
In the context of music, these terms refer to the stringed instrument of the violin family.
Which one should you use?
The term alto is used specifically to distinguish the instrument from the violon (violin) in French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word alto is a masculine noun, so you would say un alto to mean 'a viola'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /al.to/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the English word viola when speaking French. Instead, you should use the correct French term alto.
Did you know?
- In French musical terminology, the term 'viola' is almost exclusively reserved for the 'viola da gamba', a different family of instruments.
- The word violon is formed by adding the diminutive suffix -on to viole. This means the violin was originally conceived as a 'little viole'.
- French musical terminology heavily borrowed from Italian, which is why alto is identical in both languages despite the French word for violin being violon.
Examples in context
- Pouvez-vous me recommander un bon professeur d'alto ?Can you recommend me a good viola teacher?
- J'ai besoin de nouvelles cordes pour mon alto.I need new strings for my viola.
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are discussing their musical instruments.
- LucasLéa, tu joues du violon ou de l'alto ?Léa, do you play the violin or the viola?
- LéaJe joue de l'alto depuis trois ans.I have been playing the viola for three years.
- LucasC'est un instrument magnifique.It is a magnificent instrument.
- LéaOui, j'adore son timbre.Yes, I love its tone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “viola” translations and entries alto, violon alto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries violon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
