tra-la

Thân thiện

A child hums a cheerful tra-la while skipping down the path.

Definition

Noun: A set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain or melody, often to express lightheartedness, gaiety, or a carefree mood. It is an example of vocables—meaningless syllables that carry musical or emotional tone.

Usage

"Tra-la" is used to represent the sound of cheerful, wordless singing or humming. It is not used in formal writing but appears in song lyrics, poetry, or informal narratives to convey a sense of joy, whimsy, or absence of specific lyrics.

Examples

• The children skipped down the path, singing without a care in the world.
• The song's chorus consisted of a simple melody that everyone could hum along to.
• He filled the silence with a cheerful as he worked.

Advanced Usage

• As a refrain marker: In musical notation or lyric writing, "tra-la" can indicate where a hummed or wordless vocal section occurs.
  • The score simply read "hum tra-la refrain" for the bridge.
• To imply triviality or lack of seriousness: Using "tra-la" can sometimes suggest that something is unserious or frivolous.
  • He dismissed the serious concerns with a wave and a "tra-la, tra-la".

Variants and Related Words

• Tra-la-la (noun/interjection): An extended or more common variant with the same meaning and usage.
  • She sang "tra-la-la" while gardening.
• Vocable (noun): A general term for a spoken sound that forms a unit of language but has no definite meaning, such as "tra-la," "la-di-da," or "hey-nonny-no."

Synonyms

• Doo-wop (noun): Refers to a style of music or nonsense syllables used in singing, though more specific to a particular genre.
• Melisma (noun): A group of notes sung to one syllable of text, but can involve extended vocalization. (This is a technical musical term, not a direct synonym for the nonsense syllables themselves.)
• Humming (noun): The act of singing with closed lips, often without words.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Tra-la and away": A playful, archaic-sounding phrase implying a carefree departure.
  • With a final "tra-la and away," he vanished around the corner.
• "Without a tra-la": An informal, rare phrase meaning without any fuss, ceremony, or cheerful noise.
  • He left the party without a tra-la.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain

Từ đồng nghĩa

• tra-la-la