ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vocals

n.
US //ˈvoʊkəɫz// UK //vˈəʊkəlz// vo·cals
  1. 1 singing in music (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    the part of a song that is sung by a person, not played by instruments.

    the sung portion of a musical composition, typically distinguished from the instrumental backing.

    Example

    The band's new song has amazing vocals and a catchy beat.

    Example

    The producer decided to bring the lead vocals forward in the mix to highlight the singer's unique range and emotional delivery.

    Usage

    Usually plural when referring to the recorded or performed track.

    Teacher's tip

    While 'vocal' can be an adjective, students should use the plural 'vocals' when talking about the singing part of a track.

    Pitfall
    The vocal of the song is very beautiful.
    The vocals of the song are very beautiful.

    In the context of music production and performance, this word is almost always used in the plural form 'vocals'.

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