Skip to content

prélude

prelude

noun pray-LOOD Rare
Arts & Culture Music

Origin: From Medieval Latin praeludium (preliminary performance).

Also means

forerunner

Usage Note

Prélude is used both in music (a short introductory piece, as in Chopin's Préludes) and figuratively for any event that foreshadows something larger — un prélude à la guerre (a prelude to war). The verb préluder means 'to serve as a prelude to'.

Examples

"Ce prélude de Bach est magnifique."

Natural Translation

This Bach prelude is magnificent.

Explore French by topic