falsetto
n. C / Un. a high singing voice that men use to reach notes they cannot normally sing. It sounds different from a normal male voice because it is produced in a different way.
n. a vocal register in which the vocal folds vibrate in a manner that produces a pitch higher than the normal range of the voice. Often used by male singers to access notes in the upper tessitura.
The singer uses falsetto to reach the high notes in the chorus.
While many pop songs use falsetto for emotional effect, classical opera typically requires a different technique for high notes.
The transition between chest voice and falsetto requires precise control of the laryngeal muscles to maintain a consistent timbre without a noticeable break in the vocal line.
Borrowed from Italian falsetto, from falso (“false”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 22, 2026