courante: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical (Music/Dance History)
Quick answer
What does “courante” mean?
A lively, running French dance from the 16th and 17th centuries, typically in triple time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lively, running French dance from the 16th and 17th centuries, typically in triple time.
The name of a movement (the second) in the standard Baroque instrumental suite, following the allemande.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The term is used identically in academic and musical contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Conveys sophistication, historical knowledge, and specialized expertise in classical music or dance history.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Used with equal rarity in both UK and US, confined to specialised fields.
Grammar
How to Use “courante” in a Sentence
The [composer] wrote a courante.The [suite] includes a courante.They performed the courante [adverb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, dance history, and Renaissance/Baroque studies to describe a specific dance form and its musical counterpart.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used when discussing classical music or historical dance in detail.
Technical
Core term in music theory and historical performance practice, denoting a specific movement within a suite with defined tempo, metre, and phrasing conventions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “courante”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “courante”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “courante”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈkaʊərənt/ (like 'current').
- Using it as a general term for any fast dance.
- Confusing it with the later 'corrente', which is often faster and more continuous.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used almost exclusively in the context of musicology and historical dance.
The 'courante' is generally the French form, often more solemn and polyphonic with a characteristic rhythmic ambiguity. The 'corrente' is the Italian form, usually faster, homophonic, and more virtuosic.
No, 'courante' is exclusively a noun in English. The related French verb 'courir' (to run) is not used in this context in English.
The standard pronunciation is /kʊˈrɑːnt/ (UK) or /kʊˈrɑnt/ (US). The stress is on the second syllable, and the final 'e' is silent.
A lively, running French dance from the 16th and 17th centuries, typically in triple time.
Courante is usually formal, academic, technical (music/dance history) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is too specific for idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COURT of the French RENAISSANCE (cour-ante) where everyone is dancing a lively, running dance.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME AS A FLOWING RIVER (the 'running' quality of the dance).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for using the word 'courante'?