karaoke
/ˌkær.iˈoʊ.ki/
Japanese Origin
Entertainment
Original Word
カラオケ
Katakana (karaoke)
Entered English
1980s
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "karaoke"
From Japanese 'karaoke' (カラオケ), a blend of 'kara' (empty) and 'oke' (orchestra, from English). Invented in Japan in the 1970s, it means singing to pre-recorded music without live accompaniment.
Example Usage
"They sang karaoke until midnight at the party."