cancan
Cancan (noun) means a lively, high-kicking chorus-line dance that originated in 19th-century France. Example: “The dancers performed a cancan to roaring applause.”
How to use cancan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fast, high-kicking French stage dance, often associated with Parisian cabaret.
Word forms
cancanned past tense, cancans plural, cancans singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dancers performed a _____ to roaring applause.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from French cancan.
Frequently asked questions
What does “cancan” mean?
The word “cancan” means a lively, high-kicking chorus-line dance that originated in 19th-century France. In plain terms, a fast, high-kicking French stage dance, often associated with Parisian cabaret.
How do you pronounce “cancan”?
“Cancan” is pronounced KAN-kan (/ˈkænˌkæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “cancan” in a sentence?
Here is “cancan” used in a sentence: “The dancers performed a cancan to roaring applause.”
What part of speech is “cancan”?
“Cancan” is a noun.
Where does the word “cancan” come from?
The word “cancan” comes from French. Borrowed directly from French cancan.