German Conversation · Level 25
90 words
German word
Ballade
Pronunciation
IPA/baˈlaːdə/
Meaning
- feminine nounballad
Example
Im Konzert sang die Sängerin eine Ballade.
At the concert, the singer performed a ballad.
More examples
Der Lehrer bat die Klasse, die Handlung der Ballade kurz zusammenzufassen.
The teacher asked the class to briefly summarize the plot of the ballad.
Core concept
Verses carry a compact plot, whether performed as music or read as narrative poetry, and often end with a sharp change.
Common phrases
die Handlung der Ballade zusammenfassen
summarize the plot of the ballad
eine mittelalterliche Ballade
a medieval ballad
die Stimmung der Ballade beschreiben
describe the mood of the ballad
Similar words
Lied: A vocal musical work performed with instrumental accompaniment.
Gedicht: A brief poem that emphasizes crafted language, structure, and sound.
Erzählgedicht: A relatively long poem whose main purpose is to tell a story.
Erzählung: A short written narrative that recounts a story in prose.
Definition in German
Ein literarisches oder musikalisches Stück, das in dichterischer Form eine Geschichte erzählt und häufig eine deutliche dramatische Wendung besitzt.
Word origin
The German noun is a borrowing from French ballade, which developed from Provençal ballada, a term associated with dancing.
Usage tips
- German Ballade covers literary narrative poems as well as musical pieces, so the context determines whether 'ballad' means a poem or a song.
Other meanings
- narrative poemnoun
Opposites
- Prosaprosenoun
Related words
- Balladendichtungballad poetrynoun
- balladischballadicadjective