A troubadour was one of a class of medieval lyric poets and poet-musicians who flourished principally in southern France from the 11th to the 13th centuries. They wrote songs and poems of a complex metrical form, often focusing on themes of courtly love and chivalry. The troubadour tradition began in western Aquitaine and spread to other regions of France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, and a female troubadour is usually called a "trobairitz"
. In modern terms, popular singers are sometimes referred to as troubadours, especially when the words of their songs are an important part of their music
. The term "troubadour" is also associated with the French tradition of courtly love that began in the Middle Ages
