Pronunciation: [kˈɔːdə] (IPA) 
The word "corda" is spelled with a silent 'd' which can be confusing for English speakers. The spelling is based on the Italian language where 'd' is often silent when it comes after an 'r' sound. Corda means rope in Italian and is pronounced [ˈkɔrdɐ]. The first syllable is stressed with an 'o' pronounced like the 'o' in "lost". The 'r' sound is produced by vibrating the back of the tongue against the uvula.
Corda is a noun with multiple definitions:
1. In music, corda refers to a string, specifically a string on a musical instrument. It is commonly used in relation to the piano, where the term "corda" is often seen engraved on the sostenuto pedal. This pedal is responsible for lifting the dampers only from the strings that are struck by the notes played while the pedal is depressed, producing a unique sustained effect.
2. In anatomy, corda refers to a term used to describe a cordlike structure or a string-like part of an anatomical organ. For instance, the "chordae tendineae" are fibrous cords in the heart that attach to the leaflets of the heart valves, preventing them from being inverted or regurgitating blood when the heart contracts.
3. Corda is also a feminine noun in Portuguese, the singular form of "cordas". It translates to "string" in English and is frequently used to refer to musical instrument strings, ropes, or other thin and elongated objects.
4. In Latin, corda is the plural form of "chorda," which means "string." It can refer to strings on a musical instrument, ropes, or lines. This term is often found in Latin phrases or scientific and technical contexts.
Overall, "corda" refers to strings, whether they are musical strings, fibrous cords in anatomy, thin ropes, or other string-like objects. The specific usage of the term depends on the context in which it is being used.
The word "corda" is of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin noun "chorda", which means "a rope or cord". This Latin noun itself derived from the Greek word "khordē", which also means "a string or a cord". Ultimately, the Greek word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gher-, meaning "gut" or "entrail". Over time, the Latin term "chorda" evolved into "corda" in certain modern Romance languages, including Italian and Portuguese, where it still means "rope" or "cord" today.
