Choir vs. Chorus: What’s the Difference?

These two music-related words overlap, but they’re not the same.

Choir → ✔ a group of singers (usually formal or organized) Chorus → ✔ a group of performers or the repeated part of a song

Use choir when you mean people who sing together, and chorus for song sections, performers, or repeated lines.

1. Choir

Meaning

A choir is a group of trained singers, often performing in churches, schools, or concerts.
It refers specifically to people who sing together in harmony.

Examples (10 total)

1. She joined the school choir.
2. The choir performed beautifully.
3. The church choir sings every Sunday.
4. He practices with the choir twice a week.
5. The children’s choir won an award.
6. Our choir needs more tenors.
7. The choir rehearsed for the holiday concert.
8. She loves listening to choir recordings.
9. The choir traveled to another city for a competition.
10. Their choir has over forty members.

🧠 Tip:
If it’s a group of singers, use choir.

2. Chorus

Meaning

Chorus has multiple meanings:

a) A group of singers or performers

This group is usually part of a larger show (like a musical or opera), not necessarily trained like a choir.

b) The repeated part of a song

This is the most common modern meaning.

Examples (10 total — mixed uses)

1. Everyone sang along with the chorus.
2. The musical had a large chorus on stage.
3. The chorus of the song is very catchy.
4. The chorus entered after the solo.
5. The opera’s chorus sounded powerful.
6. I can’t get the chorus out of my head.
7. The chorus dancers performed together.
8. The song’s chorus starts at 1:00.
9. The chorus repeated several times.
10. The audience joined in during the chorus.

🧠 Tip:
Use chorus for song refrains or groups within performances.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Choir → singers
👉 Chorus → song section / performers

Memory trick:
“Choir” has “chi”, like “sing”’s soft sound.
“Chorus” starts with “chor”, like chorus line or song chorus.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Calling the repeated part of a song a “choir”
✔ Correct: Use chorus

❌ Calling a church singing group a “chorus”
✔ Correct: Use choir

❌ Thinking they mean the same thing
✔ They overlap, but meanings differ

Writing More Naturally

Choosing the right word — choir or chorus — helps your writing stay clear and natural. If you want help polishing your text or avoiding confusing word pairs, an humanize AI text tool can refine everything effortlessly.

FAQs

1. Is a choir the same as a chorus?

Not exactly. A choir = trained singers.
A chorus = performers or repeated song sections.

2. Can a choir sing a chorus?

Yes — a choir can perform a song’s chorus.

3. Is the “chorus” only in songs?

No — it also describes a group in musicals or operas.

4. Which is more formal?

“Choir” is usually more formal and traditional.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word

(Answers at the end.)

1. The church __________ performed beautifully.
2. Everyone sang along with the song’s __________.
3. She joined the school __________ last year.
4. The musical had a large __________ of dancers.
5. I can’t get the __________ out of my head!
6. The __________ rehearsed for the concert.
7. The opera’s __________ entered together.
8. The children’s __________ won first prize.
9. The band repeated the __________ twice.
10. He wants to sing in a community __________.

Answers

1. choir
2. chorus
3. choir
4. chorus
5. chorus
6. choir
7. chorus
8. choir
9. chorus
10. choir