Etymology Map
Back to all words

Soprano

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the highest singing voice, typically of a woman or boy
1
Stage 1 of 3
supra
Latin · ancient
"above"
meaning "above"
2
Stage 2 of 3
soprano
Italian · 1600s
"the highest singing voice"
named the highest singing voice
3
Stage 3 of 3
soprano
English · 1700s
"the highest range of the singing voice"
adopted directly from Italian
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom