Quintet is a noun referring to a group of five people or things, especially a musical ensemble of five performers. It can also denote any set of five items considered together. The term is common in music and organizational contexts, and contrasts with larger ensembles or smaller duos.
"The quintet performed a seamless program of Baroque and contemporary pieces."
"She assembled a jazz quintet to showcase her original compositions."
"The museum curated a quintet of modern sculptures for the exhibit."
"In the choir workshop, we formed a vocal quintet to practice harmony."
Quintet derives from the Latin quintus meaning fifth, which entered Old French as quintet and eventually English. The root quint- signals five, connected with other terms like quantify and quintuple. The suffix -et is a diminutive or collective marker in English, here indicating a small group formed by five individuals or parts. The word first appeared in English in the late 17th to early 18th century in musical contexts, aligning with terms like quartet and trio. Its semantic drift centered on collections or arrangements of five, expanding into non-musical domains (e.g., art or team rosters). Across centuries, quintet retained its core meaning of a five-member unit, while sometimes used more broadly to denote any group of five items, especially when the items are intended to function as a cohesive unit in performance or composition.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Quintet" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Quintet"
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Phonetically it’s /ˈkwɪnˌtɛt/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a clear /kw/ blend, then /ɪn/ as in win, and finish with a light /tɛt/. In casual speech, the final /t/ can be unreleased, sounding like /ˈkwɪnˌtɛd/. Listen to a native pronunciation through a trusted source to confirm timing of the second syllable.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable (quin-TET) or pronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ instead of /ɪ/. Some speakers also merge /tɛt/ into /tɪt/ or /tət/, softening the final stop. Correct by emphasizing the first syllable with a short, crisp /ɪ/ and delivering a clear, unreleased /t/ in the final syllable. Avoid making the second syllable too long; keep it brisk to preserve natural rhythm.
In US English, initial /kwɪ/ is crisp and the final /tɛt/ is often a light, aspirated /t/. In UK English, you may hear a slightly tighter vowel in /ɪ/ and the final syllable shortened, sometimes moving toward /ˈkwɪn.tət/. Australian speakers often have a more open /æ/ for similar words but maintain /kwɪnˌtɛt/ with a non-rolled /t/ at the end. Regardless, the main features remain the /kw/ onset, /ɪ/ vowel, and final /tɛt/ or /tət/.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster /kw/ at the start, the stressed first syllable with a quick, precise vowel /ɪ/ and the unreleased final /t/ creating a compact stop. The vowel in the second syllable is short and reduced, making the rhythm subtle. Local accents can alter vowel length and final consonant release, adding to confusion. Practice by isolating each phoneme and then blending with controlled timing.
A noteworthy nuance is maintaining distinctness of the second syllable /tɛt/ from the first, avoiding a run-together effect. Many speakers inadvertently create a diphthong or merge /tɛt/ with a schwa. Focus on a crisp /t/ at the end, with a brief pause after the stressed first syllable to preserve the word’s characteristic five-beat rhythm.
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