What does quartet mean?
Word: Quartet
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Quartet means a group of four musicians or singers who perform together, or a piece of music written for four performers. It can also mean any set of four.
Synonyms: foursome
Word origin: From Italian quartetto, from quarto, "fourth".
How do you spell quartet?
Syllables: quar - tet
Tricky part: The opening is spelt q-u-a-r, as in quarter, even though it sounds like "kwor".
Watch out for: qwartet, quortet
Memory tip: Imagine four musicians in a row on stage, each holding up one card: Q, U, A and R.
Quartet in a sentence
Example 1: A string quartet played softly in the hotel lobby during the wedding reception.
Example 2: Our school quartet sang a Tagore song at the Independence Day assembly.
Example 3: Four friends formed a barbershop quartet and practised every Sunday.
Fun Fact
A string quartet has two violins, one viola and one cello; the composer Joseph Haydn wrote so many works for it that he is often called the father of the string quartet.
Practise the CREST Way
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
This word comes from Italian and means a group of four musicians who perform together.
a) sonata
b) quartet
c) opera
d) solo
Show answer
b) quartet. A sonata is a piece for one or two instruments, an opera is a play set to music, and a solo is a piece for one performer.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with quartet?
a) ballet
b) regret
c) upset
d) cadet
Show answer
a) ballet. Ballet comes from French and ends in an "ay" sound with a silent t; upset, regret and cadet end in the "et" of quartet.
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
quart_t
a) e
b) a
c) u
d) i
Show answer
a) e. The last syllable is -et, the same ending as duet and sextet.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
rqeatut 1234567
a) 2641537
b) 2643517
c) 2341567
d) 7641532
Show answer
a) 2641537. Read in that order, the seven letters spell quartet.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Quartet is to four as trio is to ___.
a) two
b) three
c) six
d) five
Show answer
b) three
2. What would a quartet most likely perform?
a) a duet for flute and piano
b) a speech by one speaker
c) a solo dance at a fair
d) a song for four voices
Show answer
d) a song for four voices
