Definition

A long, curved wooden horn that is traditionally used in the Alps. It was originally made to call cattle, but now it is mostly played as a musical instrument in classical and folk music.

Example

The sound of the alphorn echoed through the mountains during the festival.

Conversation

Have you ever seen someone play an alphorn before?

No, I haven't! What does it sound like?

It's really unique, kind of deep and resonant.

That sounds amazing! I'd love to hear one live.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'alphorn' comes from the German 'Alphorn', which is a compound of 'Alp' (meaning mountain) and 'Horn' (meaning horn). The alphorn is a long wooden horn traditionally used in the Alpine regions of Switzerland and surrounding areas, often associated with herding and mountain culture.

Memory Tip

Picture a long horn made from wood that is played in the mountains — 'Alp' means mountain and 'Horn' means horn, helping you remember that an alphorn is a horn from the mountains.

Visually Confused Words