Words / A1

ZYL-uh-fohn/ˈzaɪləfəʊn/

A xylophone is a musical instrument (or a child's toy) with wooden (or metal) bars of different lengths that you hit with small sticks called beaters. Countable: a xylophone, xylophones. Starts with x but sounds like /z/. A piano has keys you press; a drum is round and you hit a skin. Mix-up: xylophone vs x-ray (a photo of bones) — both start with x, different pictures.

Meaning

A musical toy or instrument with wooden bars that you hit with small sticks.

Examples

• “She played a song on the xylophone.”
• “The xylophone is missing one bar.”
• “Hit the xylophone gently — it is loud.”

Good to know

a xylophone (bars, beaters; x = /z/). Contrast: piano (keys), drum (skin). Mix-up: x-ray.

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