ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lyrics

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɫɪɹɪks// UK //lˈɪɹɪks// lyrics

n. the words of a song. You use this to talk about what a singer is saying rather than the music itself.

n. the words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and a chorus. Often used in the plural form to refer to the complete text of a musical composition.


SIMPLE

I love the melody, but the lyrics are hard to understand.

CONTEXTUAL

The singer spent weeks writing the lyrics for the new album to ensure every story felt personal.

COMPLEX

While the upbeat tempo suggests a happy song, the lyrics actually explore themes of loss and isolation, creating a striking contrast for the listener.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually plural ('the lyrics'); the singular 'lyric' refers to a single line or a specific type of short poem.

Pitfall

I like the song's lyric.I like the song's lyrics.When referring to the full set of words in a song, the plural form 'lyrics' is standard.

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