Phrase guide

sonata form

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A form of classical music consisting of a single movement divided into three main sections, the exposition, development and recapitulation, sometimes followed by a coda.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a musical form having 3 sections -- exposition and development and recapitulation; characteristic of 1st movement of a sonata or symphony

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: art form

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: sonatevorm — a form of classical music
  • Estonian: sonaadivorm — a form of classical music
  • Finnish: sonaattimuoto — a form of classical music
  • French: structure sonate — a form of classical music
  • French: forme sonate — a form of classical music
  • German: Sonatensatzform — a form of classical music
  • German: Sonatenform — a form of classical music
  • Greek: φόρμα σονάτας (fórma sonátas) — a form of classical music
  • Hungarian: szonátaforma — a form of classical music
  • Icelandic: sónötuform — a form of classical music
  • Italian: forma-sonata — a form of classical music
  • Japanese: ソナタ形式 — a form of classical music
  • Polish: forma sonatowa — a form of classical music
  • Portuguese: forma-sonata — a form of classical music
  • Russian: сона́тная фо́рма (sonátnaja fórma) — a form of classical music
  • Slovene: sonatna oblika — a form of classical music
  • Spanish: forma sonata — a form of classical music
  • Swedish: sonatform — a form of classical music
  • Ukrainian: сона́тна фо́рма (sonátna fórma) — a form of classical music