German word

Reigen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁaɪ̯gn̩/

Meaning

  • masculine nounround dance

Example

Wir beobachten den Reigen auf dem Dorffest.

We are watching the round dance at the village festival.

Illustration for Reigen (round dance)

More examples

Die Ausstellung eröffnete einen Reigen von Eindrücken.

The exhibition set in motion a series of impressions.

Core concept

A linked circle of dancers that also suggests a tightly connected sequence moving from one part to the next.

Common phrases

  • einen Reigen eröffnen

    set in motion a series

  • ein Reigen von Eindrücken

    a series of impressions

Similar words

Reihe: People or things placed one after another in a line.
Folge: A succession of events or things in a particular order.
Tanz: The activity of moving the body to music.
Kreis: A circular shape or the area within it.

Definition in German

ein kreisförmiger oder paarweiser Tanz, bei dem Teilnehmende oft Hand in Hand gehen; im übertragenen Sinn eine eng verbundene Abfolge von Ereignissen

Word origin

Reigen comes from Middle High German reigen, a verb meaning 'to dance', and developed as a noun for a dance before gaining its figurative sense.

Usage tips

  • Reigen has a literary or elevated tone, so everyday German often uses Abfolge or Reihe for a sequence of events.

Other meanings

  • seriesnoun

Opposites

  • Einzeltanzsolo dancenoun

Word lists with this word