Clavicembalo is often referred to as a harpsichord, a musical instrument that produces sound by plucking strings. In some contexts, it can also be called a spinet or a virginal, both of which are similar keyboard instruments. The term clavier is also used interchangeably with clavicembalo in certain languages, including German. Other historic variations of the instrument include the clavicytherium, an upright version of the harpsichord, and the clavecin royale, a specially designed harpsichord created for King Louis XIV of France. In modern times, the term keyboard is commonly used as a general term for any musical instrument with keys.