Well-read · Art & music · Borrowed words
Leitmotif: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Leitmotif noun. A recurring tune or idea linked to a particular character, place or theme.
How to say it
LYTE-moh-teef/ˈlʌɪtməʊˌtiːf/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (LYTE).
Leitmotif in a sentence
Every time the shark comes near, its two-note leitmotif creeps back in.
Loneliness is the leitmotif running through all her novels.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- motif
- theme
- refrain
Where leitmotif comes from
From German Leitmotiv, leading motif, a term tied to Wagner's operas.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Loneliness is the _____ running through all her novels.
- sprezzatura
- leitmotif
- cognoscenti
Show the answer
leitmotif: Loneliness is the leitmotif running through all her novels.