When you think of saying “to dance” in French, danser is probably the first word that comes to mind. And you’d be right – it’s the most common and versatile option! But just like in English, there are many other ways to express the joy of movement, from a quick shuffle to a full-blown performance. Whether you’re hitting a club, grooving at a party, or just feeling the rhythm at home, knowing different ways to talk about dancing will make your French sound much more natural and expressive. Let’s explore some fantastic alternatives to danser!

The standard 'to dance' – danser

When you want to express the action of 'to dance' in French, the verb you'll almost always use is danser.

Danser is a regular -er verb, which means its conjugation follows a predictable pattern. This makes it relatively easy to learn.

Here's how danser is conjugated in the present tense: Je danse (I dance) Tu danses (You dance - informal singular) Il/Elle/On danse (He/She/One dances) Nous dansons (We dance) Vous dansez (You dance - formal singular/plural) Ils/Elles dansent (They dance)

Danser is used broadly for any type of dancing, whether it's at a party, in a professional performance, or just for fun. It's the standard, go-to verb.

The verb danser can be used both intransitively (e.g., Je danse bien - I dance well) and transitively, often with a direct object denoting the type of dance (e.g., Nous dansons la valse - We dance the waltz).

The corresponding noun for 'a dance' is une danse. For example, faire une danse means 'to do a dance'.

Unlike some other French words that can have multiple meanings depending on context, danser is very straightforward. It exclusively means 'to dance'.

💡 * J'aime danser le rock and roll. (I like to dance rock and roll.)

• Ils dansent toute la nuit. (They dance all night long.)
• Nous allons danser ce soir. (We are going to dance tonight.)
• Elle danse très bien la salsa. (She dances salsa very well.)
• Tu veux danser avec moi ? (Do you want to dance with me?)

The 'to dance ballet' – danser un ballet

The “to dance ballet” – danser un ballet

When you want to express the idea of performing a specific ballet piece or a ballet production, the French phrase you're looking for is danser un ballet.

This phrase is distinct from simply danser le ballet or faire de la danse classique (to do/practice classical ballet). The indefinite article un (a/an) before ballet is crucial here, indicating a particular ballet performance or work.

You would use danser un ballet when referring to the act of performing in a specific ballet production, such as "The Nutcracker" or "Swan Lake." It implies being part of a choreographed show.

Since danser is a regular -ER verb, its conjugation follows the standard pattern, making it straightforward to use in various tenses.

Beyond just dancing, danser un ballet evokes the artistry and dedication involved in bringing a complete ballet piece to life on stage, rather than just taking a dance class or practicing steps.

💡 * Elle rêve de danser un ballet sur la scène de l'Opéra de Paris. (She dreams of dancing a ballet on the stage of the Paris Opera.)

• Les danseurs se préparent à danser un ballet moderne pour le festival. (The dancers are preparing to dance a modern ballet for the festival.)
• As-tu déjà eu la chance de danser un ballet devant un public nombreux ? (Have you ever had the chance to dance a ballet in front of a large audience?)
• Le chorégraphe a créé un nouveau ballet que nous allons danser l'année prochaine. (The choreographer created a new ballet that we will dance next year.)

The 'to tap dance' – faire des claquettes

When you want to express 'to tap dance' in French, the common and correct phrase you'll use is faire des claquettes.

Literally, claquettes (a feminine plural noun) refers to 'tap shoes' or the 'taps' themselves. It's the distinctive sound they make that gives them their name.

The verb faire means 'to do' or 'to make.' In this expression, it acts as an auxiliary verb, indicating the action of tap dancing. You will conjugate faire according to the subject and tense.

For example, 'I tap dance' would be Je fais des claquettes, 'You tap danced' would be Tu as fait des claquettes, and 'We will tap dance' would be Nous ferons des claquettes.

This phrase is straightforward and widely understood in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal discussions about dance. It's the standard way to talk about tap dancing in French.

Unlike English, French does not have a single, direct verb for 'to tap dance.' The construction faire des claquettes is the established and only common way to express this action.

💡 * Elle adore faire des claquettes. (She loves to tap dance.)

• Ils font des claquettes sur scène. (They are tap dancing on stage.)
• As-tu déjà fait des claquettes ? (Have you ever tap danced?)
• Mon rêve est de faire des claquettes. (My dream is to tap dance.)
• Nous allons faire des claquettes demain soir. (We are going to tap dance tomorrow evening.)

The 'to skip/hop lightly' (while dancing) – sautiller

The verb sautiller translates to 'to skip' or 'to hop lightly' in English, often implying a playful or dance-like movement. It's distinct from sauter, which means a more general 'to jump'.

Unlike a strong, single jump, sautiller specifically suggests a series of small, rapid, and often joyful hops. This verb is commonly used to describe light, rhythmic movements, particularly when dancing or moving with a buoyant step.

Sautiller is a regular -ER verb. Its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er, making it straightforward to learn and use in various tenses.

💡 * Elle aimait sautiller sur la pointe des pieds quand elle était contente. (She loved to skip on her tiptoes when she was happy.)

• Les enfants sautillent de joie en voyant les cadeaux. (The children hop with joy seeing the gifts.)
• Le danseur a commencé à sautiller avec légèreté sur la scène. (The dancer began to skip lightly on the stage.)
• Ne sautillez pas trop vite, vous allez vous fatiguer. (Don't hop too fast, you'll get tired.)

The 'to spin/whirl' (in a dance) – tournoyer

The 'to spin/whirl' (in a dance) – tournoyer

Tournoyer specifically refers to the act of spinning or whirling, often gracefully, in a circular motion, particularly in the context of dance or similar movements.

While it can be used more broadly, tournoyer often carries a slightly more poetic or descriptive nuance than simply tourner. It implies a continuous, often elegant, rotation.

Tournoyer is a regular -ER verb. Its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -oyer, where the 'y' changes to 'i' before a mute 'e' (e.g., je tournoie, tu tournoies, il tournoie, nous tournoyons, vous tournoyez, ils tournoient).

It's important to distinguish tournoyer from tourner. While both involve turning, tourner is more general (to turn a page, to turn around, to turn a corner), whereas tournoyer implies a more sustained, often self-contained, whirling or spinning motion, like a dancer or a leaf in the wind.

Use tournoyer when you want to emphasize a continuous, often graceful, spinning motion, especially in artistic or descriptive contexts like dance.

💡 * La danseuse aimait tournoyer sur la scène. (The dancer loved to spin on stage.)

• Les feuilles mortes tournoient dans le vent. (The dead leaves whirl in the wind.)
• Il la fit tournoyer dans ses bras pendant la valse. (He made her whirl in his arms during the waltz.)
• Les derviches tournoient en signe de dévotion. (The dervishes whirl as a sign of devotion.)
• Elle a tournoyé avec grâce jusqu'à ce que la musique s'arrête. (She twirled gracefully until the music stopped.)

The 'to dance in a lively/informal way' (colloquial) – guincher

The French verb guincher is a colloquial and informal way to say 'to dance,' specifically implying a lively, energetic, and often uninhibited style. It's not about elegant ballroom dancing, but rather moving freely and with enthusiasm, often at a party or informal gathering.

While danser is the general verb for 'to dance,' guincher adds a nuance of spirited, sometimes boisterous, or even slightly old-fashioned dancing. You'd use it to describe someone really getting into the music, perhaps at a village fête, a family celebration, or a casual party, rather than a formal club.

Guincher often carries a connotation of joy, spontaneity, and a lack of pretension. It evokes images of people letting loose on the dance floor, without worrying about specific steps or looking 'cool.' It can also have a slightly retro or charmingly dated feel, making it endearing.

This verb is typically heard in informal conversations and among certain generations or social circles. While younger people might use it to evoke a playful, retro vibe, it's perhaps more common among older generations describing a good time on the dance floor. It's less common in mainstream youth slang today than danser.

If you want to express the idea of dancing in a lively, uninhibited, and joyful way, especially in an informal or slightly nostalgic context, guincher is an excellent choice. However, for general dancing, danser remains the standard and safest option.

💡 * Ils ont guinché toute la nuit à la fête. (They danced all night at the party.)

• Viens guincher avec nous, ne reste pas assis ! (Come dance with us, don't just sit there!)
• Les grands-parents aimaient bien guincher sur les airs d'accordéon. (The grandparents really liked to dance to accordion tunes.)
• J'adore guincher quand il y a de la bonne musique. (I love to dance lively when there's good music.)

The 'to wiggle/jiggle' (while dancing) – se trémousser

The verb se trémousser means 'to wiggle,' 'to jiggle,' or 'to shake' one's body, typically in an enthusiastic or energetic way while dancing. It perfectly captures the image of someone moving freely and rhythmically.

This verb implies a lively, often informal, movement, suggesting someone is really getting into the rhythm and letting loose on the dance floor. It's often used to describe someone dancing with a lot of energy and spontaneous body movements.

As a reflexive verb, se trémousser requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject. For instance, you would say je me trémousse (I wiggle) or elle se trémousse (she wiggles).

💡 * Elle adore se trémousser sur la piste de danse. (She loves to wiggle/jiggle on the dance floor.)

• Les enfants se trémoussaient au rythme de la musique. (The children were wiggling to the rhythm of the music.)
• À la fête, tout le monde se trémoussait joyeusement. (At the party, everyone was happily wiggling/jiggling.)
• Il n'a pas arrêté de se trémousser pendant tout le concert. (He didn't stop wiggling throughout the entire concert.)

The 'to have a quick dance' (idiomatic) – piquer une danse

The 'to have a quick dance' (idiomatic) – piquer une danse

Literally translating to 'to steal a dance,' the French idiom piquer une danse means 'to have a quick dance' or 'to sneak in a dance.' It implies a spontaneous, often brief moment of dancing.

This expression is informal and evokes a sense of seizing an opportunity to dance, perhaps unexpectedly or when the mood strikes. It's perfect for describing an impromptu jig or a couple of steps on the dance floor.

It's important to note that piquer here is used idiomatically, not in its literal sense of 'to sting' or 'to prick.' The phrase functions as a fixed unit, common in casual conversation.

💡 * Tu veux piquer une danse avec moi ? (Do you want to have a quick dance with me?)

• Malgré la fatigue, ils ont piqué une danse sur la dernière chanson. (Despite the fatigue, they had a quick dance to the last song.)
• Allez, viens, on va piquer une danse avant que la musique ne s'arrête ! (Come on, let's have a quick dance before the music stops!)
• J'ai piqué une danse avec ma sœur au mariage. (I had a quick dance with my sister at the wedding.)

1. The 'to do dance steps' – faire des pas de danse

To express the idea of 'to do dance steps' in French, the most common and direct phrase you'll encounter is faire des pas de danse.

This phrase literally translates to 'to make some steps of dance.' Let's break it down: faire means 'to do' or 'to make,' des pas means 'some steps' (where pas is plural for 'step'), and de danse means 'of dance' or 'dance-related.' The use of faire is key here, as it's a versatile verb often used for actions.

You would typically use faire des pas de danse when referring to the specific actions or movements involved in dancing, rather than the general act of dancing. For example, when learning a choreography, practicing specific moves, or describing someone performing particular steps.

While danser simply means 'to dance' (the general activity), faire des pas de danse emphasizes the individual steps or sequences. Think of it as the difference between 'dancing' and 'performing dance steps' in English. If you just want to say 'to dance,' use danser.

💡 * Elle aime faire des pas de danse quand elle écoute de la musique. (She likes to do dance steps when she listens to music.)

• Le professeur nous a appris à faire des pas de danse compliqués. (The teacher taught us how to do complicated dance steps.)
• Pour ce tango, il faut faire des pas de danse très précis. (For this tango, you need to do very precise dance steps.)
• Les enfants s'amusaient à faire des pas de danse improvisés. (The children were having fun doing improvised dance steps.)

Are there other ways to say 'to dance' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to dance” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “to dance” in French. But French, like any language, is rich with nuances, from formal expressions to regional variations and contemporary slang that even this author might not be fully aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire danser en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local idioms.

You might find some interesting synonyms for danser on this list. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — especially music, films, and cultural events — you may discover different ways to talk about dancing.

And if you’re looking for more ways to talk about dancing, or words related to movement and rhythm in French, the WordReference entry for danser is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary for movement and expression. As Martha Graham once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” Keep exploring!