tanzen
to dance
To move rhythmically, usually to music, often as a social activity or art form.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Hochzeit haben wir bis in den Morgen getanzt.
At the wedding, we danced until morning.
tanzen
to dance
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Meanings
tanzen
to dance
To move quickly, lightly, and irregularly. Often used figuratively for things like leaves, snowflakes, or reflections of light.
EXAMPLE
Die Schneeflocken tanzten im Wind vor dem Fenster.
The snowflakes danced in the wind in front of the window.
nach jemandes Pfeife tanzen
to dance to someone's tune
To submit to another person's will and do exactly what that person demands.
EXAMPLE
Er hat es satt, immer nur nach der Pfeife seines Chefs zu tanzen.
He is tired of always dancing to his boss's tune.
Usage tips
Auxiliary verb: haben or sein?
The perfect tense of 'tanzen' (to dance) is usually formed with 'haben' when it is about the activity itself. But when movement from one place to another is described, 'sein' is used.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben die ganze Nacht getanzt.
We danced the whole night.
Sentence structure and use
'Tanzen' (to dance) can be used with different complements: you can dance a specific dance (accusative), dance with someone (preposition 'mit'), or dance to music (preposition 'zu').
EXAMPLE
Er hat auf der Feier einen Tango getanzt.
He danced a tango at the party.
Figurative use
In this meaning, 'tanzen' (to dance) is often used poetically for things that move lightly and irregularly. Typical subjects are leaves, snowflakes, flames, or reflections of light.
EXAMPLE
Die Blätter tanzten im Herbstwind.
The leaves danced in the autumn wind.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'nach jemandes Pfeife tanzen' (to dance to someone's tune) is a fixed structure. The part 'jemandes' is often replaced by a possessive article (e.g., 'seiner') or a 'von + Dativ' construction.
EXAMPLE
Ich lasse mir nicht vorschreiben, was ich tun soll. Ich tanze nicht nach seiner Pfeife.
I won't let anyone tell me what to do. I don't dance to his tune.
Compare with
tanzen vs Tanz
dance
Tanzen and der Tanz both relate to rhythmic movement to music. Tanzen refers to the activity itself, while der Tanz more often names this movement as a form or process. Use tanzen when someone is carrying out the activity, and Tanz when describing it as a thing.
tanzen
Die Gäste tanzen im Saal zur Musik.
The guests are dancing to the music in the hall.
Tanz
Der Tanz der Gäste im Saal wirkt sehr lebhaft.
The guests' dance in the hall seems very lively.
In real life
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