01
der Tango
tango
A social and competitive dance that originally comes from Argentina and Uruguay and is known for its passionate and dramatic style.
example
Sie haben die ganze Nacht Tango getanzt.
They danced tango all night.
der Tango
tango
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
Whether the dance or the music is meant can usually be recognized from the verb. Verbs like 'tanzen' (to dance) or 'lernen' (to learn) refer to the dance, while verbs like 'hören' (to hear/listen to), 'spielen' (to play), or 'laufen' (to be playing) point to the music.
EXAMPLE
Sie lernt seit einem Jahr, Tango zu tanzen.
She has been learning to dance tango for a year.
Typical verb
When 'Tango' (tango) means the dance, the verb 'tanzen' (to dance) is almost always used. The fixed combination is 'Tango tanzen' (to dance tango).
EXAMPLE
Auf der Party haben wir bis spät in die Nacht Tango getanzt.
At the party, we danced tango until late into the night.
Typical verbs
When 'Tango' (tango) refers to the music, it is often combined with verbs such as 'einen Tango hören' (to listen to a tango), 'einen Tango spielen' (to play a tango), or 'einen Tango komponieren' (to compose a tango).
EXAMPLE
Der Pianist spielte einen berühmten Tango für die Gäste.
The pianist played a famous tango for the guests.
Compare with
Tango vs Flamenco
flamenco
'der Tango' and 'der Flamenco' can both have to do with dance and music. That is why they can easily be confused, especially if you are only thinking of passionate dances. 'Tango' is a partner dance from Argentina and Uruguay; the music for it is also called Tango. 'Flamenco' comes from Andalusia in Spain and combines singing, guitar, and a very expressive dance. A practical tip: with Tango, you often think of a dance couple; with Flamenco, you think of Spanish music, singing, guitar, and strong movements.
Tango
Im Tanzkurs üben wir heute den Tango zu langsamer Musik.
In dance class today, we are practicing the tango to slow music.
Flamenco
Bei dem Fest spielte ein Gitarrist Flamenco, und eine Tänzerin klatschte den Rhythmus.
At the festival, a guitarist played flamenco, and a dancer clapped the rhythm.
In real life
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