As a musical instrument, the viola (generally pronounced /vee-oh-la/ is the only instrument in the orchestra that reads from the alto clef. It's a stringed instrument that is lower than a violin but an octave higher than the cello.
As a plant, the viola (usually pronounced /vy OH la/ in the USA and /VY uh la/ in England), is a genus of flowers that include violets, johnny-jump-ups and pansies.See Also: Violet