ballade
ballad (poem or song)
noun bah-LAHD Rare
Origin: Old French ballade
Usage Note
Ballade (with double-d) is a specific poetic and musical form, distinct from balade (a stroll or leisurely walk, single-d). The spelling difference is a classic French spelling trap. In medieval French poetry, a ballade had a fixed structure of three stanzas and an envoi.
Examples
"Il joue une ballade de Chopin au piano."
Natural Translation
He is playing a Chopin ballade on the piano.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
6 min read