Definition
A female dancer, especially one who performs professionally or artistically.
Etymology
From 'dancer' (one who dances) plus the feminine suffix '-ess' (from Old French and Latin origins), used to indicate female gender.
Kelly Says
The suffix '-ess' is becoming less common in modern English—we now say 'dancer' regardless of gender, reflecting how language evolves to match changing social attitudes about work.
Translations
BNবাংলা
নৃত্যশিল্পী
nrit-ysh-il-pee
CACatalà
ballarina
ba-la-ree-nah
CSČeština
tanečnice
ta-nech-ni-tse
DEDeutsch
Tänzerin
tsän-zer-in
ELΕλληνικά
χορεύτρια
ho-re-v-tree-ah
ESEspañol
bailarina
bah-lee-ah-ree-nah
FISuomi
tanssija
tan-ssi-ja
FRFrançais
danseuse
dan-soos
GUGU
નર્તકિણી
nar-th-ki-nee
HEעברית
רקדנית
re-ka-de-nit
HIहिन्दी
नर्तकी
nar-tee-kee
HUMagyar
táncosnő
tan-kos-no
IDBahasa Indonesia
penari wanita
pe-na-ree wa-ni-tah
IGIG
onye na-egwu
o-nye na-e-gwu
ITItaliano
ballerina
bal-le-ree-nah
KMKM
ប្រពៃណី
bra-pra-ve-i
MSBahasa Melayu
penari wanita
pe-na-ree wa-ni-tah
NLNederlands
danseres
dan-se-res
PLPolski
tancerka
tan-cher-kah
PTPortuguês
bailarina
bah-lee-ah-ree-nah
RORomână
dansatoare
dan-sa-to-reh
RUРусский
балерина
ba-le-ri-na
SVSvenska
danserska
dan-ser-ska
SWKiswahili
mwanamke mcheza
mwa-na-m-ke m-che-za
TAதமிழ்
நடனக் கலைஞர்
na-dan-ka-lai-nja-nar
TEతెలుగు
నర్తకి
nar-th-kee
THไทย
นักเต้นหญิง
nak-dten-ying
TLTL
magtanong
magtan-ong
TRTürkçe
balerina
ba-le-ree-nah
UKУкраїнська
танцівниця
tan-tsiv-ny-tsa
URاردو
نری ڈانسر
na-ree dan-sar
VITiếng Việt
nữ vũ công
nu-vu cong
ZUZU
umshayeli
oom-sha-ye-li
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Suffix '-ess' marks female occupants of roles. Historically used to linguistically gate-keep professional space (e.g., 'actor' vs. 'actress'). Modern practice shows '-ess' often implies secondary status or novelty.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'dancer' as gender-neutral professional term regardless of gender. '-ess' variants now read as marked/specialized, reinforcing gendered hierarchies.
Inclusive Alternatives
["dancer"]
Empowerment Note
Women dancers achieved recognition across centuries despite linguistic diminishment—from ballet prima donnas to contemporary choreographers. The term 'danceress' itself reflects historical struggle to acknowledge women's artistry as equal professional work.