Flutist? Flautist? Neither are English-language originals; they are both Anglicized versions of flûtiste (French) and flautista (Italian). American English? Flute player … always safe, always accurate … never “hoity-toity” (envision finger under nose lifting chin to symbolize feet don’t have to touch the ground .. an old-fashioned gesture indicating that one feels superior).

My mother used to say that flautist is obsolete Italian .. unless you ARE Italian! That term became fashionable in the mid-19th century in the US. Since I grew up in the 20th century and am still going strong in the 21st …. Flute player, I am!