Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dance'

English Word: dance

Key Russian Translations:

• танец [ˈtanʲɪt͡s] - [Noun, Singular, General term for dance]
• танцевать [tɐnt͡sɨˈvatʲ] - [Verb, To dance]
• танцы [ˈtant͡sɨ] - [Noun, Plural, Often refers to dancing as an activity]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday speech and media)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "танец" and "танцы"; B1 for verb "танцевать" due to conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

танец: [ˈtanʲɪt͡s]

Note on танец: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'ц' sound is a sharp, unvoiced consonant.

танцевать: [tɐnt͡sɨˈvatʲ]

Note on танцевать: Stress on the second syllable; the soft 'тʲ' requires a slight palatalization.

танцы: [ˈtant͡sɨ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dance as a noun (a performance or type of movement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• танец - Refers to a specific dance or the concept of dance as an art form (e.g., ballet, folk dance).
• танцы - Refers to dancing as a general activity or event (e.g., going to a dance party).

Usage Examples:

• Этот танец очень красивый.

  This dance is very beautiful.

• Мы ходим на танцы каждую субботу.

  We go to dance classes every Saturday.

• Танец был частью церемонии.

  The dance was part of the ceremony.

2. Dance as a verb (to move rhythmically)

Translation(s) & Context:

• танцевать - Used when describing the act of dancing, often paired with specific styles or contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она любит танцевать под музыку.

  She loves to dance to music.

• Мы танцевали всю ночь на вечеринке.

  We danced all night at the party.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

1. танец (Noun, Masculine, Singular):

2. танцевать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb of the 1st conjugation. Examples of present tense:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for танец/танцы:

• пляска (more informal or folk-related)
• хореография (formal, related to choreography)

Antonyms for танцевать:

• стоять (to stand still)

Related Phrases:

• танцевать вальс - To dance a waltz.
• идти на танцы - To go dancing (e.g., to a dance event).
• танец живота - Belly dance (literal translation).

Usage Notes:

• "танец" is used for a specific dance or the concept of dance, while "танцы" often implies the activity or a social event.
• "танцевать" is an imperfective verb, focusing on the process of dancing. For a completed action, use "станцевать" (perfective).
• In formal contexts, "танец" might be used in discussions of art or performance; in casual speech, "танцы" is more common for social dancing.

Common Errors:

1. Confusing "танец" and "танцы": English speakers often use "танец" when referring to a dance event. Correct: "Мы идём на танцы" (We’re going dancing). Incorrect: "Мы идём на танец."

2. Misusing verb aspects: Using "танцевать" for a completed action. Correct: "Я станцевал танец" (I danced a dance). Incorrect: "Я танцевал танец" (implies ongoing action).

Cultural Notes:

Dancing holds a significant place in Russian culture, from traditional folk dances like the "kazachok" to classical ballet, which is a source of national pride. The word "танцы" might evoke images of social gatherings or Soviet-era dance halls for older generations.

Related Concepts:

• балет (ballet)
• пляска (folk dance)
• дискотека (disco, dance club)