rigaudon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (rare)Formal, academic, historical, musical
Quick answer
What does “rigaudon” mean?
A lively French folk dance in duple time, originating in the 17th century.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lively French folk dance in duple time, originating in the 17th century.
The music for such a dance, often included as a movement in Baroque instrumental suites.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; spelling is consistent. The term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Elicits connotations of Baroque music, historical courtly dance, and French cultural heritage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both British and American English, limited to specialist circles.
Grammar
How to Use “rigaudon” in a Sentence
[The rigaudon] [verbed]...The suite included a lively rigaudon.They performed the rigaudon with great energy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rigaudon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not used as a standard adjective]
American English
- [Not used as a standard adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Not applicable]
Academic
Used in musicology and historical dance studies. E.g., 'The dissertation analysed the structural form of the rigaudon in Rameau's operas.'
Everyday
[Virtually never used]
Technical
Used by musicians, conductors, and dancers specialising in early music. E.g., 'The tempo marking for the rigaudon is Allegro.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rigaudon”
- Misspelling: 'rigadon', 'rigordon'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the second syllable (/rɪˈɡɔː.dən/).
- Using it as a general term for any fast dance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare and specialised term used almost exclusively in historical, musical, or academic contexts.
Yes, it also refers specifically to the musical composition written for that dance, often as a movement in a larger suite.
Both are French Baroque dances, but a rigaudon is in duple (2/2 or 2/4) time and is particularly lively and rustic, while a gavotte is in quadruple (4/4) time and often begins on the third beat of the bar, with a slightly more moderate character.
'Rigadoon' is an older, now less common, Anglicised spelling variant. The standard modern spelling in English is 'rigaudon', reflecting its French origin.
A lively French folk dance in duple time, originating in the 17th century.
Rigaudon is usually formal, academic, historical, musical in register.
Rigaudon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.ə.dɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.əˌdɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No idioms containing 'rigaudon' exist in common usage]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RIG' for a lively, energetic dance and 'AUD' for audio/music. A RIG of dancers moving to the AUDio of a sprightly tune.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RIGAUDON IS A SPRIGHTLY MACHINE: It is often described in terms of its precise, energetic, and clockwork-like rhythm.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'rigaudon'?