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ballerine

ballerina

noun bah-leh-REEN Rare

Origin: Italian ballerina, from ballare (to dance)

Also means

ballet flat (shoe)

Usage Note

Ballerine covers both the female ballet dancer and the style of flat, round-toed shoe inspired by dance footwear. Context makes the meaning clear — une ballerine étoile is a principal dancer, while une paire de ballerines refers to the shoes. The male equivalent dancer is un danseur or un danseur étoile.

Examples

"La ballerine répète chaque matin pendant deux heures."

Natural Translation

The ballerina rehearses every morning for two hours.

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