folk-song

A woman sings a folk-song while playing a guitar.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A traditional song originating among the common people of a region: "folk-song" refers to a song that is typically passed down orally through generations, often with unknown authorship, and reflects the cultural life, history, or beliefs of a specific community or nation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She learned a beautiful folk-song from her grandmother, who had sung it in her village as a child. (A traditional song passed down within a family or community.)
  • The festival featured performances of folk-songs from various parts of the country. (Traditional songs representing different regional cultures.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sing a folk-song": to perform a traditional song orally.

  • The old man would often sing a folk-song about the harvest season. (He performed a song passed down in his community.)

• "folk-song tradition": the practice or heritage of preserving and performing such songs.

  • The folk-song tradition in that region is rich with stories of love and war. (The cultural practice of keeping traditional songs alive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Folk music (n): a broader category of music that includes folk-songs and instrumental pieces from a particular culture.

  • The concert featured both folk-songs and instrumental folk music. (Traditional music of various forms.)

• Folk singer (n): a person who performs or composes folk-songs.

  • She became a well-known folk singer, touring with her collection of traditional songs. (A performer specializing in folk-songs.)

Synonyms

• Ballad: a narrative song, often traditional and passed down orally.
• Traditional song: a song that has been preserved through oral tradition.
• Folk ballad: a specific type of folk-song that tells a story.

Related Idioms

• "as old as a folk-song": something very ancient or deeply rooted in tradition.

  • That custom is as old as a folk-song, passed down for centuries. (Very old and traditional.)

• "sing a different folk-song": to change one's story or opinion (less common, often used playfully).

  • He was against the plan before, but now he's singing a different folk-song. (He has changed his stance.)