curtsy
C1Formal, Historical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A formal gesture of respect or acknowledgement, primarily performed by women and girls, involving bending the knees and lowering the body with one foot behind the other, often while holding the edges of a skirt.
Any act of respectful deference or submissive acknowledgment, often metaphorical.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Closely associated with historical contexts, royalty, ballet, and formal ceremonies. The action implies a social hierarchy where the performer is of lower status or showing great respect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'curtsey' is more common in British English, while 'curtsy' is standard in American English. The word is used slightly more frequently in British contexts due to the active monarchy.
Connotations
In both varieties, it strongly connotes tradition, formality, and often anachronism. In American English, it might be perceived as even more old-fashioned or specifically 'European'.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK English due to royal protocol coverage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] curtsied to [Indirect Object (person)].[Subject] performed a curtsy.[Subject] gave a curtsy.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Only in metaphorical use, e.g., 'The CEO doesn't expect his executives to curtsy to him.'
Academic
Found in historical, literary, or cultural studies discussing etiquette, gender roles, or performance.
Everyday
Very rare. Used when describing a formal event, a historical drama, or jokingly.
Technical
Used in dance terminology, particularly ballet and historical dance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The young debutante will curtsey to the Queen.
- She curtseyed gracefully before leaving the stage.
American English
- The flower girl curtsied to the bride and groom.
- You are expected to curtsy when you meet the ambassador.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The little girl gave a small curtsy.
- In the play, the maid curtsied when the king entered the room.
- Her deep, perfectly executed curtsy impressed the visiting dignitaries.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CURTain call' for a performer, but it's a 'CURT-SY' (say) of respect.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPECT IS LOWERING ONESELF / SUBMISSION IS A PHYSICAL LOWERING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кёрлинг' (curling, the sport).
- The Russian equivalent 'реверанс' (reverans) is a direct loanword and is highly specific and formal, similar to English.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for men (men 'bow').
- Confusing spelling: 'curtsey' vs 'curtsy'.
- Pronouncing the 't' separately: /ˈkɜːt.si/ not /ˈkɜːrt.si/ or /ˈkɜːts.i/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'curtsy' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, yes. The equivalent gesture for men is a bow. In modern, less formal contexts, 'bow' can be used for all genders.
They are spelling variants of the same word. 'Curtsy' is the standard American spelling, while 'curtsey' is more common in British English, though both are understood everywhere.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to mean any act of respectful deference or submissive acknowledgment, e.g., 'The report included a curtsy to the work of previous researchers.'
Formal curtsies are largely archaic in everyday life but are still part of formal protocol when meeting royalty in some countries, and are used in performance contexts like ballet and theatre.