Is 'seguidilla' a common English word?

No, it is a very low-frequency loanword specific to Spanish culture and the arts.

Can 'seguidilla' refer to anything other than a dance?

Yes, it can also refer to the music for that dance, and to a specific Spanish verse form associated with it.

Do I need to know this word for general English?

For general proficiency, no. It is a specialist term useful only for those studying Spanish music, dance, or poetry.

How is 'seguidilla' pronounced?

Approximately /seg-i-DEE-yuh/. The stress is on the third syllable.

Is “seguidilla” formal?

Seguidilla is usually formal / specialized in register.

seguidilla: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low

UK/ˌsɛɡɪˈdiː(j)ə/US/ˌsɛɡɪˈdi(j)ə/

Formal / Specialized

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Quick answer

What does “seguidilla” mean?

A fast Spanish folk dance, or the music for such a dance.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A fast Spanish folk dance, or the music for such a dance.

By extension, it can refer to a verse form associated with this dance, consisting of stanzas of four or seven lines with a specific rhyme scheme. Also used to describe the lively, rhythmic style or feeling associated with this dance form.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British texts due to stronger historical cultural ties to Spain.

Connotations

Evokes Spanish or Hispanic culture, traditional folk arts, and a specific rhythmic pattern.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both varieties. Any usage is context-specific to arts, musicology, or cultural studies.

Grammar

How to Use “seguidilla” in a Sentence

The [dancers] performed a seguidilla.The [guitarist] played a seguidilla.The [poem] is written in seguidilla form.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

traditional seguidillaplay a seguidilladance the seguidillaseguidilla music

medium

a lively seguidillathe rhythm of the seguidillaSpanish seguidilla

weak

classic seguidillafolk seguidillaaccompaniment for a seguidilla

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in musicology, dance history, Hispanic studies, and poetry analysis.

Everyday

Extremely unlikely to be used or understood.

Technical

The primary domain of use: music, dance, poetry.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “seguidilla”

Strong

flamenco (specific context)jota (another Spanish dance, not synonymous but in same semantic field)

Neutral

folk danceSpanish dancedance tune

Weak

rhythm melodyballad (if referring to poetic form)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “seguidilla”

silence stasisprose (for poetic form)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “seguidilla”

Mispronouncing it as /sɛɡwɪˈdɪlə/. Incorrectly using it as a general term for any Spanish song or dance.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is a very low-frequency loanword specific to Spanish culture and the arts.
: Yes, it can also refer to the music for that dance, and to a specific Spanish verse form associated with it.
: For general proficiency, no. It is a specialist term useful only for those studying Spanish music, dance, or poetry.
: Approximately /seg-i-DEE-yuh/. The stress is on the third syllable.
: A fast Spanish folk dance, or the music for such a dance.
: Seguidilla is usually formal / specialized in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None. It is a technical term.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'SEGUE' (a transition in music) + 'DILLA' (like a 'syllable' of dance). A seguidilla is a piece of music/dance that makes you segue into its lively rhythm.

Conceptual Metaphor

RHYTHM IS A LIVING PULSE; CULTURAL ARTIFACT IS A CONTAINER FOR TRADITION.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The guitarist began to play a fast, rhythmic , and the couple immediately started to dance.

Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'seguidilla' MOST likely to be used?