2 syllables: Chor, us. Stress on Chor.
KAW-ruhs
/ˈkɔɹəs/
Chorus is pronounced KAW-ruhs (/ˈkɔɹəs/). It has two syllables (Chor-us), with the stress on "Chor". Chorus (noun) refers to a group of singers performing together, or a section of a song repeated with harmonies. It can also denote a group of voices or sounds occurring simultaneously. In music, it contrasts with a solo, highlighting collective performance and often carrying a memorable, repeated melodic line. The term can also describe any recurring group sound or refrain in a larger work.
nounChorus (noun) refers to a group of singers performing together, or a section of a song repeated with harmonies. It can also denote a group of voices or sounds occurring simultaneously. In music, it contrasts with a solo, highlighting collective performance and often carrying a memorable, repeated melodic line. The term can also describe any recurring group sound or refrain in a larger work.
"The chorusUnified choir opened the concert with a powerful harmony."
"She joined the chorus to practice ensemble singing after work."
"The chorus repeats the main theme, making it easy to sing along."
Chorus is pronounced with first-syllable stress: /ˈkɔːr.əs/ in US and UK. The initial /k/ is followed by an open-mid back rounded vowel /ɔː/ as in “core.” The second syllable uses a schwa /ə/ or reduced /ɪ/ depending on rapid speech, ending with a soft /s/. In careful speech you’ll hear two-stressed syllables, the first longer. Audio references: you can compare with recordings labeled ‘chorus’ on pronunciation sites or phrase samples like “the chorus repeats.”
Common mistakes: (1) Flattening the /ɔː/ vowel to a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/, which makes it sound like ‘collar’ rather than ‘chorus.’ (2) Dropping the second syllable or attaching it too tightly to the first, producing /ˈkɔːrəs/ instead of /ˈkɔːr.əs/. (3) Overemphasizing the /r/ in non-rhotic accents where /r/ is not strongly pronounced in syllables after vowels. Correction: keep a clear lengthened /ɔː/ in the first syllable, split the syllables with a light, relaxed second syllable, and let the final /s/ be crisp but not sibilant-heavy.
US English typically uses /ˈkɔːr.əs/ with a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a reduced second syllable. UK English is /ˈkɔː.rəs/ with a smoother, possibly shorter second syllable and less rolling of the r in non-rhotic speech. Australian English often mirrors US in rhoticity but may have a slightlyae reduced second syllable and a broader /ɔː/ vowel sound. In all, the stress remains on the first syllable, and the ending is a soft /əs/ or /əs/ depending on speed.
The difficulty lies in balancing the long /ɔː/ vowel, which requires a rounded, open-mid mouth shape, with a short, unstressed second syllable. The /r/ in rhotic varieties can be tricky for non-native speakers, and in non-rhotic accents you must avoid over-aspirating the /r/ or turning it into a vowel-like /ə/. Additionally, ensuring the final /s/ remains crisp without a sibilant overrun is essential. Practice distinguishing /ˈkɔːr.əs/ from /ˈkɔː.rəs/ and maintain even timing across syllables.
Chorus’ unique considerations include the two-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a reduced second syllable. Ensure the first vowel is a full, rounded /ɔː/ rather than a fronted /ɒ/. Avoid inserting a vowel in the second syllable that would shift the word into /ˈkɔː.rəs/; keep it as /ˈkɔːr.əs/. For singers and speakers, the cadence of the line should place a gentle beat on the first syllable and a quick, light touch on the second, so the word sits naturally within phrases like ‘the chorus sings along.’
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Chorus comes from the Latin chorus, meaning a band of dancers or singers, derived from Greek khoros, meaning a choir or dance group, and later through Old French chorus into English. The term originally described a circular or semicircular group of performers in ancient Greek drama, combining singers and dancers. In Latin, chorus signified the collective singing part accompanied by instruments, not a single voice. Over time, the word broadened in English to mean a group of people singing together in a song, and by extension, any repeated, communal sound or refrain in a composition. The shift from a physical group on stage to a musical section in a song highlights how social vocal activity evolved into a formal musical structure. First known use in English traces to early modern period texts where ensembles were described as “choruses” in dramatical and musical contexts, with usage becoming common in 16th–18th century music theory and lyric descriptions. The word retained its social and performative connotations, eventually standard in contemporary music language to denote the repeated, collectively sung section of a piece.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chorus" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chorus"
-rus sounds
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