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ballata

ballad

noun bahl-LAH-tah Rare
Arts & Culture Music

Origin: From Old Provençal balada (song to dance to), from balar (to dance).

Usage Note

Ballata in the Italian literary tradition refers to a specific medieval lyric form (used by Dante and Petrarch) as well as the modern musical ballad. The medieval ballata had a precise structure with a ripresa (refrain); the modern sense is simply a slow, emotional song — closer to the English 'ballad'.

Examples

"Canticchiava una dolce ballata d'amore."

Natural Translation

She was humming a sweet love ballad.

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