Chord and Cord Split Apart on Purpose
A chord is several musical notes sounded together. The h was added deliberately to separate it from cord, and the vocal cords kept the old spelling.
A chord is a group of notes sounded together, and in geometry a straight line joining two points on a curve. The musical word began as *cord*, a shortening of *accord*, and the h was inserted in the 1600s to align it with Greek *chorde*, a string. The spelling split stuck, which is why guitarists play chords while singers use vocal cords — a distinction that trips up writers constantly. *Strike a chord* means to resonate, borrowing the musical image.
- Notes sounded together. *A minor chord.*
- A line across a curve. *The chord of an arc.*
- Strike a chord — to resonate. *It struck a chord.*
- Vocal cords — always with no h. *Strained vocal cords.*
- Accord — the source of the musical word. *In accord.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | chord | A major chord. |
| Plural | chords | Three chords. |
| Different word | cord | A length of cord. |
| Anatomy | vocal cords | Vocal cords. |
| Related | accord | In accord. |
- The song uses only three chords.Music.
- Draw a chord across the circle.Geometry.
- His speech struck a chord.Idiom.
Chord or cord?
- Chord — music and geometry
- Cord — rope, string, flex, and the spinal cord
- Vocal cords — the standard spelling, no h
- Strike a chord — musical, so h
- Corduroy — a fabric, from cord
Originally *cord*, a shortening of *accord*. The h was added in the 1600s under the influence of Latin *chorda* and Greek *chorde*, a gut string.
Is it vocal chords or vocal cords?
Cords. They are folds of tissue, not musical chords, and the spelling has no h.
What is a chord in geometry?
A straight line joining two points on a curve. A diameter is the longest chord of a circle.