repertoire
/ˈrep.ə.twaːr/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A repertoire is all the songs, pieces, or acts that a performer knows and can perform. It can also mean the range of things a person or group can do well.
- Her repertoire includes old jazz songs.
- The comedian added new jokes to his repertoire.
- He has a wide repertoire of teaching methods.
Adinary Nuance
Repertoire is broader than a single performance. It means the full set of songs, pieces, skills, or actions someone has ready to use. Words like collection or list are close, but they do not always suggest ability or performance. Use repertoire when the items are known, practiced, and ready to be used.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vốn tiết mục
- Spanish
- repertorio
- Chinese
- 曲目
- Japanese
- レパートリー
- Korean
- 레퍼토리
Etymology
It comes from French repertoire, from Latin repertorium, meaning 'a list' or 'inventory'. English began using it in the 1800s, first for performance lists.
Common phrases
a wide repertoireexpand your repertoirepart of the repertoirein his repertoire
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is repertoire only used for music?
- No. It is common in music, but it can also mean a range of skills or actions.
- What is the difference between repertoire and collection?
- A collection is just a group of things. A repertoire is a group of things someone can perform or use well.
- Is repertoire a formal word?
- Yes, it is slightly formal. You may see it in writing, reviews, and academic English.
- How do I use repertoire in a sentence?
- You can say, 'She has a large repertoire of songs' or 'He added new skills to his repertoire.'