prima ballerina: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, artistic, sometimes journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “prima ballerina” mean?
The leading female ballet dancer in a company.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The leading female ballet dancer in a company.
A woman who has achieved the highest rank in a professional ballet company; can be used metaphorically to describe a woman who is the preeminent figure in a particular field or activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The Italian term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of high art, tradition, and elite cultural status in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, confined to contexts discussing ballet or figurative uses.
Grammar
How to Use “prima ballerina” in a Sentence
[Name] was appointed prima ballerina of [Company].She danced as the prima ballerina in [Ballet].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prima ballerina” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She had a prima ballerina status within the organisation.
American English
- He acknowledged her prima-ballerina role in the project's success.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'She's the prima ballerina of corporate mergers.'
Academic
Used in dance history, performance studies, and cultural criticism.
Everyday
Very rare unless discussing ballet. Figurative use is understood but stylised.
Technical
Standard term in ballet for the highest female rank in many companies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prima ballerina”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “prima ballerina”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prima ballerina”
- Using it for any skilled ballerina (it's a specific title).
- Misspelling as 'prema ballerina' or 'prime ballerina'.
- Using it as a plural ('prima ballerinas' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loan phrase from Italian, fully assimilated into English, particularly in the context of ballet.
No. The term is specifically feminine. The equivalent top rank for a male dancer is 'premier danseur' or 'principal dancer'.
In some companies, 'prima ballerina' is a special honorific title above principal dancer. In others, the terms are used interchangeably for the top female rank. 'Principal dancer' is a more generic, modern term.
It is used to describe a woman who is the most prominent or skilled person in a non-ballet field, e.g., 'the prima ballerina of neuroscience'. It often carries a slight tone of theatricality or grandeur.
The leading female ballet dancer in a company.
Prima ballerina is usually formal, artistic, sometimes journalistic. in register.
Prima ballerina: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpriːmə ˌbæləˈriːnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌprimə ˌbæləˈrinə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the prima ballerina of [field] (figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRIMA sounds like 'PREMIER' – the first or leading. BALLERINA is the dancer. The leading dancer.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS RANK IN BALLET, EXCELLENCE IS ELEVATED POSITION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'prima ballerina'?