Karaoke Means Empty Orchestra
Karaoke is singing along to a recorded backing track. The Japanese name says exactly what it is: an orchestra with nobody in it.
Karaoke is singing to a recorded accompaniment with the vocal removed. The Japanese name is a compound of *kara*, empty, and *oke*, a clipping of the English *orchestra* β an empty orchestra, waiting for a voice. It spread from Japanese bars in the 1970s to the whole world within a decade.
- Singing along to backing tracks. *A karaoke night.*
- The equipment for it. *A karaoke machine.*
- Karaoke bar β a venue built around it. *A karaoke bar in Shinjuku.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | karaoke | Karaoke every Friday. |
| Compound | karaoke machine | A home karaoke machine. |
| Compound | karaoke bar | A karaoke bar. |
| Related | backing track | The backing track. |
| Related | singalong | A family singalong. |
How it is used in a sentence
- We ended up doing karaoke until two.Do karaoke, not play it.
- The pub has karaoke on Thursdays.Uncountable.
- In Japan, groups often hire a private karaoke room.Known as a karaoke box.
Japanese words English uses daily
- Karaoke β empty orchestra
- Tsunami β harbour wave
- Emoji β picture character
- Futon β a folding mattress
- Tycoon β from *taikun*, a great lord
From Japanese *karaoke*, from *kara* (empty) and *Εkesutora* (orchestra), itself borrowed from English. The word is a loan that travelled out and came back half translated.
How is karaoke pronounced?
In Japanese, ka-ra-o-ke, four even syllables. English speakers usually say ka-ree-OH-kee, and both are understood.
What is a karaoke box?
A private room hired by the hour, standard in Japan and much of East Asia, as opposed to singing in front of a whole bar.