Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| ballare | /balˈla.re/ |
| danzare | /danˈt͡sa.re/ |
The verb is used to describe the act of moving rhythmically to music. The related nouns ballo and danza describe the movements themselves, depending on the context of the dance.
Which one should you use?
ballare is the most common way to say 'to dance' in everyday conversation. In contrast, danzare is more formal and is often used to refer to the art of dance or classical dance.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The Tarantella is a lively folk dance originating from Southern Italy, particularly the regions of Campania and Puglia.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ballo is derived from the verb ballare and refers to a specific dance or the act of dancing. The noun danza is derived from the verb danzare and refers to the art or genre of dance. For people who dance, use ballerino for a male dancer and ballerina for a female dancer.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the second syllable: /balˈla.re/.
Did you know?
- The concept of tarantismo involves a historical belief that dancing the Tarantella could cure a poisonous spider bite.
- The word ballerina does not only mean a dancer, but is also the common Italian word for a 'slipper' or 'flat shoe'.
- The verb ballare is actually a close linguistic relative of the English word 'ball', referring to a formal social gathering for dancing.
Examples in context
- Io non so ballare.I can't dance.This sentence shows how to express an inability to dance using ballare.Tatoeba #1996482 by Guybrush88, translation #1951450 by CK
- Io so già ballare.I already know how to dance.This sentence demonstrates how to say you already know how to dance using ballare.Tatoeba #6687676 by Guybrush88, translation #5797468 by CK
- A te piace ballare?Do you like to dance?This sentence is a way to ask if someone likes to dance using ballare.Tatoeba #1738700 by Guybrush88, translation #528107 by fanty
- 613 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a party, Martina asks Alessandro if he wants to dance.
- MartinaAlessandro, vuoi ballare con me?Alessandro, do you want to dance with me?
- AlessandroSì, mi piacerebbe molto ballare.Yes, I would really like to dance.
- MartinaQuesta musica è perfetta per ballare.This music is perfect for dancing.
- AlessandroHai ragione, andiamo in pista!You are right, let's go to the dance floor!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dance” translations and entries ballare, danzare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ballare, danzare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
