Dance in Greek
χορός
choros — dance
Hear χορός
Χορός (choros) is a dance and dancing in general, stressed cho-ROS, with the χ as the soft rasp of Scottish "loch". The verb is χορεύω, I dance. English took the same root twice: chorus, and choreography by way of χορός plus γράφω, to write.
Named dances attach to the word constantly. Συρτός and καλαματιανός are the line dances at weddings, χασάπικο the one foreigners recognise from the film, and ζεϊμπέκικο the solo improvised dance that nobody joins uninvited.
The shout that goes with it is όπα. It marks a good move, a burst of enthusiasm, or the moment the music lifts, and it comes from the dancers and the watchers alike. The verb behind the noun is regular: χορεύω, χορεύεις, χορεύει — I dance, you dance, he or she dances.
Example sentences
Μου αρέσει ο χορός.
Mou aresei o choros.
I like dancing.
Θέλεις να χορέψουμε;
Theleis na chorepsoume?
Do you want to dance?
Related forms
- χορεύω (chorevo) — I dance
- ζεϊμπέκικο (zeimpekiko) — the solo improvised dance
Common questions
- What do Greeks shout when dancing?
- Όπα (opa). It marks a good move or a lift in the music, from dancers and onlookers alike. It is not a toast and it has nothing to do with smashing plates.
Quick check
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