we all know that either is grammatically correct...... ive heard both used and i use both myself... i think it depends on where you are from (france UK spain etc.) I use `flutist` when talking to ppl who dont play a musical instrument because they tend to get confused when i would say `Fluatist` i use `fluatist` when tallking to other flute or band embers/players. it really doesnt matter ......

O.K. Flautist comes from the German way of saying Flute. It`s Flaut(i) that`s where Flautist comes from.

Flautist is not a made up word. Like I said before, it`s German, and therefore equally correct.


Edited by Forum Admin at 13:54 on Thursday, June 16, 2005
Reason: no insults please!]

i think it also comes from a spanish root? maybe? or italian? or maybe something Latin in general...i dunno

"Flaut" is not a made up word. It`s German, and without all of the great German influence in music we would be nowhere. Most of the Musical Masters are German/Austrian.

if you want to sound proffesional and look like you know what you are doing then it`s Flautist

but if you havn`t got a clue and want to sound pathetic then it`s flutist

`flautist n: a flute player.(Italian flautista` quoted from collins English dictionary

flutist wasn`t in there because the dictionary is correct.

In the professional world you can call yourself a Flutist or Flautist, the latter however may make you sound like snobbish.

BTW... German Flöte players are called Flötists.

It really doesn`t matter what you call yourself flutist or flautist. The point is you play the flute, it doesn`t matter what you refer to yourself.

"flutist wasn`t in there because the dictionary is correct."

Hmm... that`s funny, "anon"; Merriam-Webster`s has the word flutist.
Perhaps you were using a substandard dictionary,
because Merriam-Webster`s is certainly the standard for English language dictionaries.

I think it`s funny that people will argue about the proper form of a word like this, and then totally ignore the rules of proper punctuation. lol.

Concerning this particular case, one way or the other is the same to me; but it makes me sad when someone takes a snooty view about it.

+Jonny the F hournist

Piko, "Flautist" does NOT make you sound snobbish, it makes you sound correct. It is the correct term.

I suppose it entirely depends upon your musical circle. I used flautist for a short while and in time I dropped it for Flutist as I found that those around me who identified with Flautist were quite snobbish and I did not want to be associated with Classist Flutists.

Maybe I look into it too deep, but if I were to meet you and you introduced yourself as a Flautist (In USA without Foreign Accent) I would put up my shields until I knew where they were coming from.

I prefer Classical Flutist vs Flautist any day.