Japanese word

バレエ

Pronunciation

Romajibarē

Meaning

  • nounballet

Example

私は毎週バレエを習っています。watashi wa mai shū ba rē o nara tte i ma su

I take ballet lessons every week.

Illustration for バレエ (ballet)

More examples

週末に劇場でバレエを見ました。shū matsu ni geki jō de ba rē o mi ma shi ta

I watched a ballet at the theater over the weekend.

Core concept

Refers to a formal dance system in which controlled posture and precise movements express ideas through music.

Common phrases

  • バレエを習うba rē o nara u

    take ballet lessons

  • バレエを見るba rē o mi ru

    watch a ballet

  • バレエの公演ba rē no kō en

    ballet performance

Similar words

ダンスdansu: A general form of movement performed to music for art, exercise, or entertainment.
舞踊buyō: Dance regarded as an artistic or cultural form performed through arranged movement.
踊りodori: A sequence or style of body movements performed in response to music or rhythm.

Definition in Japanese

音楽に合わせ、決められた姿勢や足の動きを組み合わせて表現する舞踊。on gaku ni a wa se ki me ra re ta shi sei ya ashi no ugo ki o ku mi a wa se te hyō gen su ru bu yō

Word origin

バレエ (barē) comes from French ballet and ultimately from Italian balletto, a diminutive of ballo, "dance," related to ballare, "to dance".

Usage tips

  • In English, ballet has a silent final t and sounds like "bal-ay" rather than "bal-et".

Word lists with this word