French Conversation · Level 4
88 words
French word
danse
Pronunciation
IPA/dɑ̃s/
Meaning
- feminine noundance
Example
J'aime la danse.
I like dancing.
More examples
Elle donne des cours de danse.
She gives dance classes.
Core concept
Body movement becomes an organized pattern shaped by rhythm, from private enjoyment to ritual or performance.
Common phrases
cours de danse
dance class
école de danse
dance school
salle de danse
dance hall
Similar words
salsa: A social Latin dance style often performed by partners to rhythmic music.
tango: An Argentine partner dance with close-contact movements and distinctive rhythms.
valse: A dance style in triple time with repeated turns and steps.
Definition in French
Mouvement du corps rythmé par la musique ou le tempo, pratiqué pour le loisir, le rituel ou la scène.
Word origin
French inherited danse from Old French dance, while the related verb danser developed in the same word family; the ultimate source is uncertain.
Usage tips
- In contemporary French, the final s in danse is pronounced, and the vowel is nasal, unlike the usual English pronunciation of dance.