This ballet glossary explains the French terms you will hear most often in class, in plain English. The essentials are plié (bending the knees), tendu (stretching the foot along the floor to a point), relevé (rising onto the balls of the feet or pointe), port de bras (movement of the arms), arabesque (a pose on one leg with the other extended behind), pirouette (a turn on one leg), and jeté (a jump from one foot to the other). Because ballet was codified in France, these words are used in studios around the world, and learning them makes class much easier to follow.
Terms are grouped below by the order they appear in a typical class: positions, barre, center, turns, jumps, and general terms, followed by tips for learning the vocabulary quickly.
Positions and directions
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| First position | Heels together, feet turned out in a line |
| Second position | Feet turned out and apart, about hip-width or slightly more |
| Third position | One heel placed against the middle of the other foot, turned out |
| Fourth position | One foot in front of the other with space between, turned out |
| Fifth position | Feet turned out and crossed so the heel of one touches the toe of the other |
| Croisé | Crossed; the body angled so the legs appear crossed to the audience |
| Effacé | Open or shaded; the body angled so the legs appear open |
| Écarté | Separated; the body angled with the working leg to the side |
| En face | Facing directly toward the audience or front |
| Devant, à la seconde, derrière | To the front, to the side, and to the back |
Barre terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Plié | A bend of the knees; demi-plié is a half bend, grand plié a full bend |
| Tendu | Stretching the foot along the floor until only the tip of the toe touches |
| Dégagé | Like a tendu, but the foot lifts slightly off the floor |
| Rond de jambe | A circular movement of the leg on the floor or in the air |
| Fondu | Melting; bending the supporting leg smoothly while the working leg extends |
| Frappé | A sharp striking action of the foot outward from the ankle |
| Développé | Unfolding the leg slowly to an extended position |
| Grand battement | A large, controlled throw of the leg |
| Relevé | Rising onto demi-pointe or pointe |
| Sur le cou-de-pied | The working foot placed at the ankle of the supporting leg |
| Retiré (passé) | The working foot drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg |
Center terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Port de bras | Movement and carriage of the arms |
| Adagio | Slow, controlled movements focusing on balance and extension |
| Arabesque | A pose on one leg with the other extended behind |
| Attitude | Like an arabesque, but with the lifted leg bent |
| Épaulement | The placement and angle of the shoulders and head |
| Balancé | A rocking, waltz-like step |
| Pas de bourrée | A quick linking step using three small steps |
| Tombé | Falling; stepping from one leg onto the other with a plié |
| Pas de basque | A traveling step with a sweeping leg action |
Turn terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pirouette | A turn on one leg, often in retiré |
| En dehors | Turning outward, away from the supporting leg |
| En dedans | Turning inward, toward the supporting leg |
| Chaînés | Quick turns traveling in a line on demi-pointe or pointe |
| Piqué | Stepping directly onto a straight leg on demi-pointe or pointe |
| Soutenu | A sustained turn on both feet, drawing them together |
| Fouetté | A whipping movement; fouetté turns use a whipping leg to continue turning |
| Spotting | Fixing the eyes on a point and whipping the head around to avoid dizziness |
Jump terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sauté | A jump from two feet landing on two feet in the same position |
| Changement | A jump from fifth position, changing the feet in the air |
| Échappé | Escaping; the feet open from a closed to an open position |
| Assemblé | Bringing the legs together in the air and landing on both feet |
| Jeté | A jump from one foot to the other |
| Grand jeté | A large leap with the legs extended in a split |
| Sissonne | A jump from two feet landing on one foot |
| Pas de chat | Cat step; a jump with the knees drawn up in turn |
| Glissade | A gliding, traveling step, often before a jump |
| Entrechat | A jump where the legs beat and cross in the air |
| Allegro | The jumping section of class; fast, lively movement |
General terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Barre | The handrail used for support during the first part of class |
| Center | The part of class danced away from the barre |
| Turnout | Rotation of the legs outward from the hips |
| Demi-pointe | Standing on the balls of the feet |
| Pointe | Dancing on the tips of the toes in pointe shoes |
| Corps de ballet | The ensemble of dancers in a company |
| Pas de deux | A dance for two, usually a man and a woman in classical repertoire |
| Variation | A solo dance within a ballet |
| Révérence | A bow or curtsy at the end of class or a performance |
Terms for the body and quality of movement
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Placement | Correct alignment of the body over the feet |
| Pulled up | Engaging the core and lengthening the spine so the body feels light |
| Cambré | Bending the body from the waist, forward or backward |
| Penché | Leaning; tilting the body forward while the leg lifts higher behind in arabesque |
| Ballon | The light, bouncy quality of a jump, as if suspended in the air |
| Batterie | Beaten steps where the legs beat together in the air |
| Sickling | A fault where the foot curves inward or outward from the ankle line |
| Épaulé | The shoulder angled toward the audience |
| Allongé | Elongated; the arm or line stretched outward |
A sample beginner class in terms
A typical beginner class might run: pliés, tendus, dégagés, ronds de jambe, frappés, and grands battements at the barre; then port de bras, adagio, and simple pirouettes in the center; then sautés, changements, and glissades in the allegro section; ending with a révérence. Knowing this order helps you anticipate what comes next and follow combinations more easily.
How to learn ballet terms quickly
1. Learn in class order. Study barre terms first, then center, turns, and jumps, following the flow of a class.
2. Say them out loud. Practice pronunciation as your teacher says them. Many terms are shortened in class.
3. Connect words to meaning. Many terms describe the action: plié means bent, tendu means stretched, jeté means thrown.
4. Use flashcards. Write the term on one side and a description or stick-figure drawing on the other.
5. Watch and label. When watching ballet, try to name the steps you see.
Common mistakes with ballet vocabulary
Mixing up tendu and dégagé. A tendu keeps the toe on the floor; a dégagé lifts slightly off it.
Confusing en dehors and en dedans. En dehors turns away from the supporting leg; en dedans turns toward it.
Assuming terms are universal. Different methods, such as Vaganova, Cecchetti, RAD, and Balanchine, sometimes use slightly different names or numbering.
Ignoring pronunciation. Mispronounced terms can confuse teachers and classmates.
A note on methods
Ballet vocabulary is broadly shared, but schools following different training methods may use variations in names, arm positions, and body directions. Always check terminology with your teacher, especially when changing schools or taking exams.
Frequently asked questions
Why are ballet terms in French?
Ballet was codified in France in the 17th century at the court of Louis XIV, so French became the standard language for ballet vocabulary.
What is the difference between plié and relevé?
A plié is a bend of the knees, while a relevé is a rise onto the balls of the feet or onto pointe.
What ballet terms should beginners learn first?
Start with the five positions, plié, tendu, dégagé, relevé, port de bras, sauté, and arabesque, since these appear in almost every beginner class.
