What does timbre mean?
Word: Timbre
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Timbre means the particular quality of a voice or instrument that makes it sound different from others.
How do you spell timbre?
Syllables: tim - bre
Tricky part: The ending is the trap. Swap the last two letters round and you get a different word, the one for wood used in building, so check those two letters every time.
Watch out for: timbur, timbere
Memory tip: Re is the second note of sa re ga ma, and it is also how this musical word ends.
Timbre in a sentence
Example 1: The bansuri has a soft, airy timbre.
Example 2: You can tell who is calling from the timbre of the voice alone.
Example 3: Each singer in the choir has a slightly different timbre.
Fun Fact
English took this word from French, and it goes back through Latin to the Greek word for a drum. It still sounds French: the first part is said like tam.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word timbre as used in the sentence:
The rich timbre of the old harmonium charmed the visitors.
a) silence
b) tone
c) tempo
d) length
Show answer
b) tone. Tone is the quality of a sound, which is what the sentence praises.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
t_m_re
a) i, p
b) i, b
c) e, b
d) a, b
Show answer
b) i, b. The sound at the start misleads, but the vowel is i and a b comes before the r.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
timmbre
a) b
b) t
c) m
d) r
Show answer
c) m. Just one m sits before the b.
Spell-o-Spell
One of these words is misspelt. Choose what it means.
1. harmony 2. rythm 3. timbre 4. melody
a) the special colour of a sound
b) a tune that is easy to follow
c) a regular, repeated pattern of beats
d) notes played together that sound pleasant
Show answer
c) a regular, repeated pattern of beats. Rhythm needs an h straight after the r, which the list leaves out.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A flute and a violin play one note equally loudly. What lets you tell them apart?
a) the different speed of their playing
b) the different number of people listening
c) the different quality of their sound
d) the different height of the players
Show answer
c) the different quality of their sound
2. Which of these words could describe the timbre of a voice?
a) distant
b) husky
c) rapid
d) brief
Show answer
b) husky
