mazurka: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low Frequency / C2Formal, Academic, Artistic (Music/Dance)
Quick answer
What does “mazurka” mean?
A lively Polish folk dance in triple meter (3/4 or 3/8 time), characterized by strong accents on the second or third beat, or a piece of music composed for this dance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lively Polish folk dance in triple meter (3/4 or 3/8 time), characterized by strong accents on the second or third beat, or a piece of music composed for this dance.
The term can refer to the dance itself, the music for the dance, and by extension, a style of classical composition popularized by composers like Frédéric Chopin. In a cultural context, it signifies a piece of Polish national heritage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties, confined to specialised domains. The word is equally recognised in both cultures due to the shared classical music canon.
Connotations
Connotes Polish folk tradition, 19th-century Romantic piano music (especially Chopin), and sophisticated ballroom dancing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly higher frequency in the UK in contexts of historical dance societies and classical music programming.
Grammar
How to Use “mazurka” in a Sentence
[Subject] danced/performed a mazurka.[Composer] wrote/composed a mazurka in F minor.The piece is a mazurka.The evening featured several mazurkas.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, dance history, and European studies departments.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by classical music enthusiasts or folk dancers.
Technical
Core term in music theory (discussing meter, accent, Chopin's oeuvre) and dance notation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mazurka”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mazurka”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mazurka”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈmæz.ər.kə/.
- Confusing it with the 'polka' (a duple-meter dance).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to mazurka' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Both are in triple meter, but they differ significantly. A waltz has a steady 'oom-pah-pah' accompaniment with a strong accent on the first beat. A mazurka has a more rhythmic, dotted quality with strong accents often on the second or third beat, and a distinct folk character.
No, 'mazurka' is only a noun. The correct phrasing is 'to dance the mazurka' or 'to perform a mazurka'.
The Polish composer Frédéric Chopin is the most famous composer of mazurkas, having written over 50 for solo piano that stylised the folk form.
You are most likely to encounter 'mazurka' in programmes for classical music concerts, in books about music history or dance, or in discussions about Polish culture and folk traditions.
A lively Polish folk dance in triple meter (3/4 or 3/8 time), characterized by strong accents on the second or third beat, or a piece of music composed for this dance.
Mazurka is usually formal, academic, artistic (music/dance) in register.
Mazurka: in British English it is pronounced /məˈzɜː.kə/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈzɝː.kə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MAZe of dancers moving URgently and briskly (KA-pow!) to the strong accent of the Polish MAZURKA.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MAZURKA IS A NATIONAL EMBLEM (for Poland). / COMPLEX RHYTHM IS INTELLIGENCE (in musical analysis).
Practice
Quiz
Which characteristic is most typical of a mazurka?