How Do You Spell Acapella? (A Cappella vs Acapella Explained)
Here's a question that's sparked countless debates in music forums, school papers, and text messages: How do you spell acapella?
TL;DR: Both "acapella" and "a cappella" are correct. "A cappella" is the traditional Italian spelling used in formal and classical contexts. "Acapella" is the Anglicized version commonly used in modern, casual settings. Use whichever fits your audience.
The Short Answer
| Spelling | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A cappella | Formal writing, classical music, academic papers | "The choir performed a cappella" |
| Acapella | Casual writing, pop music, online content | "Pentatonix is an acapella group" |
| A capella | Less common variant (one 'p') | Occasionally seen, but less standard |
Both spellings refer to the same thing: singing without instrumental accompaniment.
🎯 Quick Spelling Guide
- • Academic papers & theses
- • Music industry publications
- • Classical music contexts
- • Professional documentation
- • Social media posts
- • Google/YouTube searches
- • Casual conversations
- • Informal blog posts
Where Does the Word Come From?
"A cappella" is Italian, and it literally translates to "in the manner of the chapel" or "in the style of the church."
🇮🇹 Etymology Breakdown
The term originated in the Catholic Church, where sacred music was traditionally sung without instruments. Pipe organs existed, but many church compositions were written for voices alone — hence, music performed "in the chapel style."
The Historical Context
During the Renaissance period (14th-17th centuries), much sacred choral music was performed without accompaniment. Composers like Palestrina and Josquin des Prez wrote complex polyphonic works designed for human voices only.
The term "a cappella" distinguished this unaccompanied vocal music from compositions that included instrumental parts.
📜 A Cappella Through History
Why Two Spellings Exist
When Italian words enter English, they often get simplified. "A cappella" became "acapella" through a process linguists call Anglicization.
What happened:
- The space was removed (a cappella → acappella)
- One 'p' was dropped by some (acappella → acapella)
- Both versions became widely used
This isn't unusual — many borrowed words have multiple accepted spellings:
- Judgement / Judgment
- Doughnut / Donut
- Adviser / Advisor
Neither spelling is "wrong." Language evolves.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Use "A Cappella" (Two Words, Two P's) When:
- Writing academic or formal papers
- Discussing classical or sacred music
- Writing for music theory contexts
- You want to appear traditionally correct
- The publication has a style guide requiring it
Example: "The Renaissance motet was composed for a cappella performance."
Use "Acapella" (One Word) When:
- Writing casually or online
- Discussing pop music or modern groups
- Texting or social media
- The context is informal
- You're writing for a general audience
Example: "I found an acapella version of that song on YouTube."
When It Doesn't Matter
Honestly? For most purposes, either works. If you're not writing for an academic journal or a classical music publication, nobody's going to correct you.
The internet has largely embraced "acapella" — it's easier to type and search for. Google understands both spellings equally.
Common Misspellings to Avoid
While "acapella" and "a cappella" are both acceptable, some spellings are genuinely incorrect:
Why these matter: If you're naming a band, tagging a video, or writing for publication — getting the spelling right helps people find your content.
How to Pronounce A Cappella
🔊 Pronunciation Guide
Emphasis on the third syllable (PEL) • Four syllables total
❌ "uh-cuh-PEL-uh"
✅ "ah-kah-PEL-uh"
Both spelling variants are pronounced the same way. The emphasis always falls on "PEL."
Famous A Cappella Groups and Artists
The spelling "a cappella" has gained mainstream attention thanks to groups that specialize in vocal-only music:
- • Pentatonix
- • Pitch Perfect cast
- • Straight No Chaser
- • Home Free
- • VoicePlay
- • The King's Singers
- • Chanticleer
- • The Swingle Singers
- • Voces8
- • The Hilliard Ensemble
- • Naturally 7
- • Accent
- • Committed
- • Deke Sharon productions
- • Jacob Collier (solo)
These artists have made "acapella" (casual spelling) a mainstream term that millions search for monthly.
How to Create Your Own Acapella Tracks
Want to extract the vocals from your favorite songs to create acapella versions? Here's where it gets practical.
Modern AI tools can isolate vocals from any song, giving you a clean acapella track to:
- Study vocal techniques and arrangements
- Create remixes and mashups
- Practice harmonies along with isolated vocals
- Sample vocals for music production
- Make backing tracks for performances
The Traditional Way (Hard)
- Find official acapella releases (rare)
- Use audio editing software like Audacity (inconsistent results)
- Contact the record label (good luck)
The Modern Way (Easy)
AI-powered vocal isolation tools can extract vocals from any song in seconds. StemSplit uses advanced neural networks to separate vocals from instrumentals with 95%+ accuracy.
How it works:
- Upload any song
- AI isolates the vocal track
- Download your clean acapella
No technical skills needed. No searching for rare acapella releases. Just upload and extract.
Want to create acapellas from any song? StemSplit extracts clean vocals in under 60 seconds. Try it free — preview 30 seconds before paying.
FAQ
Is "acapella" in the dictionary?
Yes! Major dictionaries including Merriam-Webster and Oxford list both "a cappella" and "acapella" as acceptable spellings. The two-word Italian form is typically listed as primary, with the one-word form as a variant.
How do you pronounce "a cappella"?
It's pronounced "ah-kuh-PEL-uh" with four syllables. The emphasis is on the third syllable (PEL). Both spelling variants are pronounced the same way.
What's the plural of "a cappella"?
A cappella is both singular and plural — it doesn't change. "Three a cappella performances" or "several acapella groups" — the word stays the same.
Is "a capella" (one P) correct?
While you'll see "a capella" used, it's technically less accurate. The Italian word "cappella" has two P's. However, language is fluid, and this spelling is understood.
What's the difference between acapella and unaccompanied?
They mean the same thing in musical contexts. "Unaccompanied" is the English equivalent of "a cappella." Use "a cappella" for singing; "unaccompanied" works for any instrument played solo.
Can one person sing a cappella?
Yes! A cappella just means without instrumental accompaniment. A solo singer without backing music is performing a cappella. Groups aren't required — though multi-part harmonies are a common feature of a cappella arrangements.
What's the most famous a cappella song?
"Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin (1988) is likely the most famous — it won the Grammy for Song of the Year and was recorded entirely with voice and body percussion. More recently, Pentatonix's covers have reached billions of streams.
How do I make an a cappella track from any song?
Use an AI vocal remover like StemSplit. Upload any song, and the AI separates vocals from instrumentals in about 60 seconds. You get a clean vocal track (acapella) and an instrumental version.
The Bottom Line
Both "acapella" and "a cappella" are correct spellings. Use the Italian form ("a cappella") for formal or classical contexts, and the simplified form ("acapella") for casual use.
What matters more than spelling is the music itself — human voices creating something beautiful without instruments.
And if you want to create your own acapella tracks from any song, AI makes it easier than ever.
Create Acapellas from Any Song
Stop searching for rare acapella releases. Extract clean vocals from any track in seconds with StemSplit's AI vocal isolation.
- ✅ Works with any song
- ✅ 95%+ vocal separation accuracy
- ✅ Free 30-second preview
- ✅ No subscription required
