World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesair obsédant
Pronunciation / Transliteration: ɛʁ ɔb.se.dɑ̃
"Cette chanson est un véritable air obsédant."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A catchy song or melody that runs continually in a person's mind after it is no longer playing.
"That new pop single is a total earworm; I've been humming it all morning." - 2
In entomology, the common name for certain insect larvae that bore into ears of corn.
"The farmer inspected the maize crop for signs of earworm damage."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived as a direct loan-translation (calque) from the German word 'Ohrwurm', combining 'Ohr' (ear) and 'Wurm' (worm). First appearing in English usage in the late 20th century, the term metaphorically describes a tune that burrows into the mind and refuses to leave.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Earworm"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Earworm" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
air obsédant
Transliteration: ɛʁ ɔb.se.dɑ̃
"Cette chanson est un véritable air obsédant."
Ohrwurm
Transliteration: ˈoːɐ̯ˌvʊʁm
"Dieses Lied ist ein echter Ohrwurm."
tormentone
Transliteration: tor.menˈto.ne
"Quella canzone è diventata un tormentone estivo."
canción pegadiza
Transliteration: kanˈsjon pe.ɣaˈdi.θa
"Esa melodía se me ha quedado grabada como una canción pegadiza."
grude
Transliteration: ˈɡɾu.dʒi
"Esse refrão é um verdadeiro grude na cabeça."
कान का कीड़ा
Transliteration: kaan ka keeda
"यह गाना मेरे दिमाग में अटक गया है।"
洗脑歌
Transliteration: xǐ nǎo gē
"这首歌简直是一首洗脑歌，挥之不去。"
수능 금지곡
Transliteration: sun-eung geum-ji-gok
"그 노래는 너무 중독성이 강해서 머릿속에서 떠나지 않는다."
頭から離れない曲
Transliteration: atamakara hanarenai kyoku
"そのCMの曲はずっと頭から離れない。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all French termsExplore Nuanced Synonyms for "Earworm"
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