paso doble
1
8.0
- noun
- /ˈpɑːsoʊ ˈdoʊbleɪ/
- The couple performed a stunning paso doble at the competition.
Examples
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She loves to dance the paso doble during ballroom nights.
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The dancers performed a stunning paso doble that captivated the audience.
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He's learning the steps of the paso doble for his next ballroom dance class.
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The paso doble is often chosen for its dramatic flair and Spanish rhythms.
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The couple gave a passionate performance of the paso doble at the dance competition.
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During the competition, she showcased her skill in the traditional paso doble dance.
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At the fiesta, people were invited to learn the lively paso doble together.
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
paso + doble
If a learner knew the constituents as Spanish 'paso' (step) and 'doble' (double) they could plausibly infer something like a 'double step' and therefore guess it names a dance, but the full, culturally specific meaning (a fast Spanish ballroom dance evoking a bullfight) is not fully predictable from the parts. As a loaned proper name for a particular dance the term is partly compositional but requires prior exposure to recover the exact sense and connotations.
Etymology
Paso doble gets its name from paso 'step' and doble 'double' and was created to act out a bullfight. One dancer plays the matador and the other the bull with bold, marching steps, so the dance looks dramatic and proud.