Walk into your first ballet class and the teacher might say something like, "Demi-plié, tendu to the side, and close." If that sounds like a foreign language, that's because it is. Ballet is taught in French, and the words can feel intimidating before you've taken a single step.
Here's the reassuring part: you don't need to memorize anything before class. Your teacher will demonstrate every step, and most terms are simple descriptions of what your body is about to do. This guide walks through 18 words you're most likely to hear, in the order you'll probably meet them in a typical class.
Why is ballet in French?
Ballet took shape in France in the 17th century. The court academy that Louis XIV founded in 1661 helped formalize the technique and its vocabulary, and the French names stuck. Today the same words are used in studios around the world, which means a plié in New York is a plié in Paris or Tokyo.
A small tip on pronunciation: don't worry about getting it perfect. The phonetic guides below are simple English approximations, so you can say the words with confidence.
At the barre
Most classes begin at the barre (say "bar"), the horizontal rail you hold for balance. It's there to help you balance, not to hold you up, so a light hand is enough.
Plié (plee-AY)
Meaning: "bent." A smooth bend of the knees. A demi-plié is a small bend with your heels staying down, and a grand plié is a deeper one. Almost every exercise starts with a plié, so you'll get plenty of practice.
Tendu (tahn-DEW)
Meaning: "stretched." Slide one foot along the floor until your leg is straight and your toes are pointed, without lifting the toes off the floor. It's one of the first steps beginners learn, and it builds the foundation for many others.
Dégagé (day-gah-ZHAY)
Meaning: "disengaged." Like a tendu, but with a quick brush so the pointed foot lifts just off the floor. It's often used as a lead-in to jumps.
Rond de jambe (rohn duh ZHAHMB)
Meaning: "circle of the leg." Your working foot draws a half-circle on the floor. En dehors means the circle goes outward, and en dedans means inward.
Fondu (fohn-DEW)
Meaning: "melted." You lower your body by bending the knee of your supporting leg while the other leg extends. Think of it as a slow, melting sensation rather than a drop.
Frappé (frah-PAY)
Meaning: "struck." A quick, crisp movement where the foot extends outward as if tapping the floor. It's all about speed and sharpness, in contrast to the slow fondu.
Grand battement (grahn bat-MAHN)
Meaning: "large beat." A big, controlled kick of the leg up into the air and back down. Aim for control, not height. The height comes with time.
Relevé (ruh-leh-VAY)
Meaning: "raised." You rise up onto the balls of your feet (demi-pointe). It's a good moment to check that your shoes fit well and stay in place. Shop ballet shoes →
En croix (ahn KRWAH)
Meaning: "in the shape of a cross." A step done to the front, side, back, and side again, tracing a cross on the floor. If your teacher says "tendu en croix," they mean four tendus in that order.
Port de bras (por duh BRAH)
Meaning: "carriage of the arms." The way you move your arms through different positions. Ballet is as much about your arms as your legs, so expect to practice this regularly.
In the center
After the barre, you'll move to the center of the floor, with no rail for support. Everything you've practiced now has to work on its own.
Adagio (ah-DAH-zhee-oh)
Meaning: "slowly." Slow, flowing, controlled movement. Many dancers find adagio the hardest part of class, because there's nowhere to hide. It rewards patience and a steady core.
Arabesque (air-uh-BESK)
Meaning: "in Arabic fashion." A pose where you stand on one leg and extend the other straight behind you. It's one of the most recognizable shapes in ballet. Beginners usually start with a low leg and build height gradually.
Pirouette (peer-oo-ET)
Meaning: "a whirl." A turn on one leg, on one spot. Single turns come first, and multiple turns come with practice. Fixing your eyes on one point before you turn (called spotting) helps with dizziness.
Jumps and traveling steps
Allegro (ah-LEG-roh)
Meaning: "lively" or "happy." The fast, energetic part of class, usually featuring jumps. After the slow adagio, allegro is the contrast.
Sauté (soh-TAY)
Meaning: "jumped." A simple jump, usually from two feet to two feet, with the legs stretched in the air and a soft landing through the feet. It's the first jump most beginners learn.
Jeté (zhuh-TAY)
Meaning: "thrown." A leap in which one leg appears to be thrown in the direction you're traveling. A grand jeté is the big, dramatic version you may have seen on stage.
The end of class
Révérence (ray-vay-RAHNSS)
Meaning: "a bow" or "a curtsy." Many classes finish with this bow to say thank you, often to the teacher and the pianist or accompanist. It's a lovely way to close the class.
Quick reference
| Term | Say it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Barre | bar | The rail you hold for balance |
| Plié | plee-AY | Bent (knee bend) |
| Tendu | tahn-DEW | Stretched |
| Dégagé | day-gah-ZHAY | Disengaged |
| Rond de jambe | rohn duh ZHAHMB | Circle of the leg |
| Fondu | fohn-DEW | Melted |
| Frappé | frah-PAY | Struck |
| Grand battement | grahn bat-MAHN | Large beat (big kick) |
| Relevé | ruh-leh-VAY | Raised (rise onto the balls of the feet) |
| En croix | ahn KRWAH | In the shape of a cross |
| Port de bras | por duh BRAH | Carriage of the arms |
| Adagio | ah-DAH-zhee-oh | Slow, flowing movement |
| Arabesque | air-uh-BESK | Standing on one leg, other leg extended behind |
| Pirouette | peer-oo-ET | Turn on one leg |
| Allegro | ah-LEG-roh | Lively, jumping movement |
| Sauté | soh-TAY | Jumped |
| Jeté | zhuh-TAY | Thrown (a leap) |
| Révérence | ray-vay-RAHNSS | Bow or curtsy |
You'll pick it up faster than you think
Within a few classes, these words start to feel familiar, and soon you'll catch yourself responding before the teacher finishes the sentence. Until then, watch the demonstration, follow along, and ask if you're unsure. Every dancer in the room has been exactly where you are.
Getting ready for your first class? Read our guide on what to wear to your first adult ballet class, or explore the SLÉMON Leotard and Ballet Shoes collections.
