Voice & Singing · Talking about Music
Describing Music in English
Go beyond "nice" – describe exactly how music sounds and feels.
"It's nice" doesn't say much. Learn adjectives and phrases to describe the mood, speed and sound of a piece of music – useful for conversation, reviews and speaking exams.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tempo | Tempo | The tempo picks up in the last verse. |
| rhythm | Rhythmus | It has a strong, driving rhythm. |
| upbeat | fröhlich, beschwingt | It's an upbeat song that makes you want to dance. |
| melancholy | melancholisch, wehmütig | The melody is beautiful but melancholy. |
| haunting | eindringlich, unvergesslich | Her voice has a haunting quality. |
| catchy | eingängig | The chorus is so catchy. |
| soulful | gefühlvoll | He gave a soulful performance. |
| mellow | sanft, weich | It's a mellow song for a quiet evening. |
| powerful | kraftvoll | She has a powerful voice. |
| lyrics | Liedtext | The lyrics tell a sad story. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- a catchy tune
- a slow ballad
- a driving beat
- to give you goosebumps
- to get stuck in your head
- to build to a climax
- a haunting melody
- to set the mood
"That song always gives me goosebumps."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Describing a song
- It starts quietly and builds to a climax.
- It has a really strong beat.
- The lyrics are very moving.
- It reminds me of summer.
Giving your opinion
- It's not really my kind of music.
- I could listen to it again and again.
- It grows on you.
- It's a bit too repetitive for me.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Describe a song that always makes you happy.
- Which song gives you goosebumps?
- What music do you listen to when you're sad?
- Do you pay more attention to the melody or to the lyrics?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "eingängig" in English?
Catchy.
2. What does "It grows on you" mean?
You like it more the more you hear it.
3. What is "Liedtext" in English?
Lyrics.
Explore More
More pages in the Voice & Singing series.
Put music into words.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and enjoy using your voice in English.
Listen closely. Describe precisely.