Arts, music vocabulary covering painting, sculpture, theater, and more, building essential English words for creative expression and appreciation.
This page introduces essential English vocabulary related to the arts and music. You'll learn words for different types of art, musical instruments, famous artists, and common activities. Each section includes example sentences to help you see how the words are used in context.
Visual Arts
Visual arts include all forms of art that you can see, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. These are some of the most common types of art around the world.
Visual Arts Vocabulary
| English Word | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| painting | a picture made with paint | She bought a beautiful painting for her living room. | Ella compró una pintura hermosa para su sala. |
| sculpture | an object made by shaping material like stone or metal | The museum has a famous sculpture in the lobby. | El museo tiene una escultura famosa en el vestíbulo. |
| drawing | a picture made with pencil, pen, or charcoal | He made a drawing of his dog. | Él hizo un dibujo de su perro. |
| artist | a person who creates art | The artist is preparing a new exhibition. | El artista está preparando una nueva exposición. |
| gallery | a place where art is shown to the public | We visited an art gallery downtown. | Visitamos una galería de arte en el centro. |
| canvas | a strong cloth used for painting | The artist painted a landscape on a large canvas. | El artista pintó un paisaje en un lienzo grande. |
| brush | a tool with bristles for painting | She used a small brush to paint the details. | Ella usó un pincel pequeño para pintar los detalles. |
| palette | a flat surface for mixing paint colors | The painter mixed colors on her palette. | La pintora mezcló colores en su paleta. |
| exhibition | a public show of art | The new exhibition opens on Friday. | La nueva exposición abre el viernes. |
| masterpiece | an excellent work of art | The Mona Lisa is a famous masterpiece. | La Mona Lisa es una obra maestra famosa. |
El museo tiene una famosa ___.
What do you call 'an object made by shaping material like stone or metal'?
sculpture
A sculpture is a three-dimensional artwork made by shaping materials like stone or metal, unlike paintings or drawings which are two-dimensional.
El artista pintó un paisaje en un ___ grande.
What do you call 'a strong cloth used for painting'?
canvas
Canvas is a durable cloth used for painting, different from paper, a palette (for mixing paint), or an easel (a stand holding the canvas).
Music
Music is the art of creating sounds with instruments or voices. It includes different styles, instruments, and activities like singing and composing.
Music Vocabulary
| English Word | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| instrument | a tool used to make music | She plays a musical instrument called the violin. | Ella toca un instrumento musical llamado violín. |
| singer | a person who uses their voice to sing | The singer has a beautiful voice. | La cantante tiene una voz hermosa. |
| concert | a live music performance | We went to a concert last night. | Fuimos a un concierto anoche. |
| compose | to write music | He likes to compose his own songs. | Le gusta componer sus propias canciones. |
| band | a group of musicians who play together | The band is practicing for a big show. | La banda está ensayando para un gran concierto. |
| melody | a sequence of musical notes that is pleasant to hear | The song has a catchy melody. | La canción tiene una melodía pegajosa. |
| rhythm | a regular pattern of sounds in music | The rhythm makes you want to dance. | El ritmo te hace querer bailar. |
| lyrics | the words of a song | I love the lyrics of this song. | Me encantan las letras de esta canción. |
| microphone | a device that makes the voice louder | The singer stepped up to the microphone. | La cantante se acercó al micrófono. |
| album | a collection of music recordings | Their new album was released last month. | Su nuevo álbum se lanzó el mes pasado. |
La ___ tiene una voz hermosa.
Who is 'a person who uses their voice to sing'?
singer
A singer performs by using their voice, whereas actors perform on stage or screen, composers write music, and musicians may play instruments.
Le gusta ___ sus propias canciones.
What does it mean to 'write music'?
compose
To compose means to create and write music, while performing is presenting it, singing is using the voice, and recording captures the sound.
Performing Arts
Performing arts include theater, dance, and other live performances where artists express ideas through movement, speech, and music.
Performing Arts Vocabulary
| English Word | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| theater | a place where plays are performed | We bought tickets to the theater. | Compramos entradas para el teatro. |
| actor | a person who performs in plays or movies | The actor received a standing ovation. | El actor recibió una ovación de pie. |
| dance | a series of movements to music | They learned a traditional dance. | Aprendieron una danza tradicional. |
| stage | the area where performers appear | The singer walked onto the stage. | La cantante salió al escenario. |
| rehearsal | practice before a performance | The cast has rehearsal every evening. | El elenco tiene ensayo todas las noches. |
| costume | clothing worn by performers | The costume was colorful and detailed. | El disfraz era colorido y detallado. |
| spotlight | a bright light that focuses on a performer | She stepped into the spotlight. | Ella se puso en el centro del escenario. |
| audience | the people watching a performance | The audience applauded loudly. | El público aplaudió con fuerza. |
| script | the written text of a play or performance | He forgot his lines from the script. | Olvidó sus líneas del guion. |
| monologue | a long speech by one actor | The monologue was very emotional. | El monólogo fue muy emotivo. |
Famous Artists & Composers
Learning about well-known artists and composers helps you connect names with their famous works and understand their contributions to culture.
Famous Artists & Composers Vocabulary
| English Name | Profession | Famous Work | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo da Vinci | artist | Mona Lisa | Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa. | Leonardo da Vinci pintó la Mona Lisa. |
| Vincent van Gogh | artist | Starry Night | Van Gogh’s Starry Night is very famous. | La Noche Estrellada de Van Gogh es muy famosa. |
| Pablo Picasso | artist | Guernica | Picasso created the painting Guernica. | Picasso creó la pintura Guernica. |
| Ludwig van Beethoven | composer | Symphony No. | Beethoven composed Symphony No. 9. | Beethoven compuso la Sinfonía No. 9. |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | composer | The Magic Flute | Mozart wrote The Magic Flute. | Mozart escribió La flauta mágica. |
| Frida Kahlo | artist | Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace | Frida Kahlo painted many self-portraits. | Frida Kahlo pintó muchos autorretratos. |
| Michelangelo | artist | David (sculpture) | Michelangelo sculpted David. | Miguel Ángel esculpió a David. |
| Johann Sebastian Bach | composer | Brandenburg Concertos | Bach composed the Brandenburg Concertos. | Bach compuso los Conciertos de Brandeburgo. |
| Claude Monet | artist | Water Lilies | Monet is known for his Water Lilies paintings. | Monet es conocido por sus pinturas de Nenúfares. |
| Igor Stravinsky | composer | The Rite of Spring | Stravinsky composed The Rite of Spring. | Stravinsky compuso La consagración de la primavera. |
Art Materials & Tools
These are common materials and tools used by artists to create their work, especially in painting and drawing.
Art Materials & Tools Vocabulary
| English Word | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| paint | a colored liquid used for creating pictures | She used blue paint for the sky. | Ella usó pintura azul para el cielo. |
| pencil | a tool for drawing or writing | He sketched the outline with a pencil. | Él hizo un boceto con un lápiz. |
| eraser | a tool for removing pencil marks | Use the eraser to fix the mistake. | Usa la goma para corregir el error. |
| charcoal | a black drawing material made from burnt wood | The artist drew with charcoal. | El artista dibujó con carbón. |
| pastel | a soft colored stick for drawing | She colored the portrait with pastel. | Ella coloreó el retrato con pastel. |
| easel | a stand that holds a canvas for painting | The painter set up her easel by the window. | La pintora colocó su caballete junto a la ventana. |
| sketchbook | a book for drawing and ideas | He keeps a sketchbook with him at all times. | Él siempre lleva un cuaderno de bocetos. |
| glue | an adhesive substance for sticking things | Use glue to attach the paper pieces. | Usa pegamento para unir las piezas de papel. |
| scissors | a tool for cutting paper and other materials | Be careful when using scissors. | Ten cuidado al usar las tijeras. |
| marker | a pen with a thick, permanent tip | She drew bold lines with a black marker. | Ella dibujó líneas gruesas con un marcador negro. |
Art & Music Verbs
These verbs describe common actions in creating art and music, from drawing and painting to playing and singing.
Art & Music Verbs Vocabulary
| English Verb | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| create | to make something new | The artist creates beautiful sculptures. | El artista crea esculturas hermosas. |
| draw | to make a picture with pencil or pen | She likes to draw animals. | A ella le gusta dibujar animales. |
| paint | to apply color with a brush | He paints landscapes in his studio. | Él pinta paisajes en su estudio. |
| play | to perform music on an instrument | She plays the guitar every evening. | Ella toca la guitarra todas las noches. |
| sing | to use the voice to make music | They sing in the school choir. | Cantan en el coro de la escuela. |
| compose | to write music | Mozart composed many famous pieces. | Mozart compuso muchas obras famosas. |
| perform | to present art or music to an audience | The dancers performed beautifully. | Los bailarines actuaron hermosamente. |
| sculpt | to shape material into a work of art | He sculpts figures from clay. | Él esculpe figuras de barro. |
| exhibit | to show art publicly | The gallery exhibits local artists. | La galería exhibe artistas locales. |
| record | to capture sound for playback | The band recorded a new single. | La banda grabó un nuevo sencillo. |
Art Styles & Genres
These terms describe different styles and categories of art and music, helping you talk about what you see and hear with more detail.
Art Styles & Genres Vocabulary
| English Word | Field | Definition | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abstract | visual art | art that uses shapes and colors rather than realistic images | She enjoys abstract paintings. | A ella le gustan las pinturas abstractas. |
| classical | music | a traditional style of music from earlier centuries | He listens to classical music to relax. | Él escucha música clásica para relajarse. |
| modern | visual art | art created in the late 19th and 20th centuries focusing on new ideas | Modern art can be very surprising. | El arte moderno puede ser muy sorprendente. |
| jazz | music | a style of music with improvisation and a strong rhythm | They went to a jazz club last night. | Fueron a un club de jazz anoche. |
| portrait | visual art | a painting or photo of a person’s face | The gallery has a portrait of the queen. | La galería tiene un retrato de la reina. |
| rock | music | a popular music style with strong beats and electric guitars | She loves listening to rock music. | Le encanta escuchar música rock. |
| landscape | visual art | a painting or photo of natural scenery | He painted a landscape of the mountains. | Él pintó un paisaje de las montañas. |
| opera | music/theater | a dramatic performance combining singing and acting | We attended an opera last weekend. | Asistimos a una ópera el fin de semana pasado. |
| still life | visual art | a painting or drawing of inanimate objects | The artist painted a still life with fruit. | El artista pintó una naturaleza muerta con fruta. |
| hip-hop | music | a genre with rhythmic speech and beats | Hip-hop originated in the 1970s. | El hip-hop se originó en los años 70. |
Art & Music Expressions
These common phrases and expressions help you talk about art and music more naturally in everyday English.
Art & Music Expressions Vocabulary
| English Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence | Example Sentence (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| work of art | something created that is beautiful or meaningful | This sculpture is a true work of art. | Esta escultura es una verdadera obra de arte. |
| in tune | singing or playing the correct musical notes | The choir sang perfectly in tune. | El coro cantó perfectamente afinado. |
| behind the scenes | happening out of public view | There’s a lot of work behind the scenes at a concert. | Hay mucho trabajo entre bastidores en un concierto. |
| hit the right note | to do or say something perfectly | Her speech really hit the right note. | Su discurso realmente dio en el clavo. |
| brush stroke | a single movement of a paintbrush | The painting has bold brush strokes. | La pintura tiene pinceladas audaces. |
| steal the show | to attract the most attention in a performance | The young violinist stole the show. | La joven violinista se robó el espectáculo. |
| break a leg | a way to wish someone good luck in a performance | “Break a leg!” said the director to the actor. | “¡Mucha mierda!” dijo el director al actor. |
| express yourself | to show your feelings or ideas through art | Art allows you to express yourself. | El arte te permite expresarte. |
| on stage | performing in front of an audience | She felt nervous being on stage. | Se sintió nerviosa estando en el escenario. |
| crowd favorite | a person or piece that the audience likes the most | The song became a crowd favorite. | La canción se convirtió en la favorita del público. |
This completes the Arts, Music vocabulary page. You now have a solid foundation of English words and phrases to describe and enjoy the world of creative expression.
Flashcards (1 of 80)
- Definition: a picture made with paint
- Example Sentence: She bought a beautiful painting for her living room.
- Example Sentence (Translated): Ella compró una pintura hermosa para su sala.
- English Word: painting
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
