A viola is a string instrument slightly larger than a violin, with a deeper and warmer sound, played with a bow.
From Italian “viola,” which came from Medieval Latin “vitula,” meaning a stringed instrument, possibly linked to a word for celebration. It is part of the same family of words that gave us “violin” and “viol.”
The viola often plays the “middle voice” in music—less showy than the violin but crucial for harmony. Orchestras can sound strangely empty if you take the violas away, even if many people hardly notice them when they’re there.
As with many classical instruments, performance on the viola has been shaped by gendered access to training and professional roles, with women historically underrepresented in elite orchestras. However, the word itself is a neutral instrument name.
Use "viola" neutrally and avoid assuming the gender of violists; refer to players with their stated pronouns or "they" if unknown.
Women violists and composers have significantly expanded the viola repertoire and visibility, even when facing barriers in conservatories and orchestras.
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