Mantra, shloka, stotram, chant — what's the difference?

A mantra is a sacred sound repeated for its own vibration and meaning. It is designed for repetition — often as japa or in ritual. A shloka is a Sanskrit verse, usually in a specific meter, often carrying philosophical or devotional meaning. The verses of the Bhagavad Gita are shlokas. A stotram is a hymn of praise. The Hanuman Chalisa is a stotram, though many recite it as they would a mantra. A chant, in its widest sense, is any spoken or sung sacred text. Every mantra is a chant; not every chant is a mantra. The distinctions can blur in practice. What matters is not the label but the sincerity with which the sound is offered.