Serenade

Serenading someone is singing to them as a way to express love.

Scat

Scatting is a form of jazz improvisation in which the singer sings using sounds with no meaning.

Hum

Humming is basically singing while your mouth is closed. When humming, the sound comes from your throat instead of your mouth. It's very useful when you don't know the words to a song!

We also use this word to describe a low, constant sound that comes from large crowds or from machines while they are operating. 

Chant

Chanting is singing in a repeating rhythm or tone. It is often done in religious forms of music.

Trill

Trilling is singing by switching back and forth between two different notes quickly.

Harmonize

Harmonizing is singing a note or notes that work well with notes another person is singing at the same time. It is the verb form of the noun "harmony."

Lip-sync

People lip-sync when they move their lips as if they are singing even though they are actually not making any sounds.

Idioms and expressions related to singing

Carry a tune

If you can "carry a tune," it means you can sing with the correct pitch. Not everyone can do this!

Belt (it) out

"Belting out" a song means to sing with all of your strength and energy.

Sing one’s heart out

This is similar to the previous expression, but it has the nuance of singing with much more emotion and feeling.

Hit the high notes

This simple expression means to reach the high notes of a song.

Hit the right note

Although it's related to singing, this is actually used in other situations to mean that something is appropriate or accurate.

Sing a different tune

This expression means that someone has changed their opinion or attitude about something.

It is often used with a critical or sarcastic tone.

In harmony (with ~)

Here's another expression related to harmony. If two or more people are working well together, we can say they are "in harmony" with each other.

Mic drop

Serenade

Serenading someone is singing to them as a way to express love.

Scat

Scatting is a form of jazz improvisation in which the singer sings using sounds with no meaning.

Hum

Humming is basically singing while your mouth is closed. When humming, the sound comes from your throat instead of your mouth. It's very useful when you don't know the words to a song!

We also use this word to describe a low, constant sound that comes from large crowds or from machines while they are operating. 

Chant

Chanting is singing in a repeating rhythm or tone. It is often done in religious forms of music.

Trill

Trilling is singing by switching back and forth between two different notes quickly.

Harmonize

Harmonizing is singing a note or notes that work well with notes another person is singing at the same time. It is the verb form of the noun "harmony."

Lip-sync

People lip-sync when they move their lips as if they are singing even though they are actually not making any sounds.

Idioms and expressions related to singing

Carry a tune

If you can "carry a tune," it means you can sing with the correct pitch. Not everyone can do this!

Belt (it) out

"Belting out" a song means to sing with all of your strength and energy.

Sing one’s heart out

This is similar to the previous expression, but it has the nuance of singing with much more emotion and feeling.

Hit the high notes

This simple expression means to reach the high notes of a song.

Hit the right note

Although it's related to singing, this is actually used in other situations to mean that something is appropriate or accurate.

Sing a different tune

This expression means that someone has changed their opinion or attitude about something.

It is often used with a critical or sarcastic tone.

In harmony (with ~)

Here's another expression related to harmony. If two or more people are working well together, we can say they are "in harmony" with each other.

Mic drop