geisha

noun GAY-sha Rare

Origin: Japanese geisha, from gei 'art' + sha 'person'

Usage Note

Geisha is a loanword from Japanese used in French without alteration. It refers to a Japanese female entertainer trained in traditional arts such as music, dance, and conversation. In French the word is feminine and takes a regular plural des geishas. It is culturally specific and does not carry a negative connotation in standard usage.

Examples

"La geisha jouait du shamisen avec grâce."

Natural Translation

The geisha played the shamisen gracefully.

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