polka

[ pohl-kuh, poh-kuh ]

/ ˈpoʊl kə, ˈpoʊ kə /

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noun, plural pol·kas.

a lively couple dance of Bohemian origin, with music in duple meter.

a piece of music for such a dance or in its rhythm.

verb (used without object), pol·kaed, pol·ka·ing.

to dance the polka.

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Origin of polka

1835–45; <Czech: literally, Polish woman or girl; compare Polish polka Polish woman, polak Pole

Words nearby polka

politics, Politics makes strange bedfellows, polity, polje, Polk, polka, polka dot, Polk, James K., poll, pollack, Pollaiuolo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polka in a sentence

Her devotion to the waltz and polka helped popularize them in the United States.
Not all presidents’ dance skills are created equal|Bonnie Berkowitz, Joanne Lee|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Above the notes of praise is a small photo of Guerin wearing a polka dot tie and pocket square, staring at you like a sociopath.
The Multimillion ‘Clairvoyance by Mail’ Scam|Jacob Siegel|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
May is seen smiling in a suit and red bowtie with white polka dots in his profile photo.
What We Know About the FSU Shooter|Caitlin Dickson|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Picasso, with his polka-dot shirt and clashing tie attempted an air of bravado, but lost confidence by the minute.
Did Picasso Try to Steal the Mona Lisa?|Nick Mafi|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Name some aspect of the horizontal polka and it has probably been discussed endlessly among human beings with two X chromosomes.
C’mon, Ladies, Masturbation Isn’t Just for Bad Girls|Emily Shire|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ted, the toddler, appeared onscreen in a black bathing suit with white polka dots.
‘Tracing the Blue Light’: Read Chapter 1 of Eileen Cronin’s ‘Mermaid’|Eileen Cronin|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Across his shoulder he carried a bundle knotted into an old red handkerchief with a polka spot.
A Lost Hero|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. Ward
A handkerchief, once red, with polka spots, contained a ragged flannel shirt and a stocking-heel tied with a piece of tape.
A Lost Hero|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. Ward
The ice was broken; Charming took the young girl by the waist, and in less than half an hour taught her the last new polka.
Laboulaye's Fairy Book|Various
The next time he came across her he asked if she would like to dance the first polka with him.
The Fourth Estate, vol. 2|Armando Palacio Valds
The waltz and polka used to be considered bad enough to get you kicked out of the churches.
What Will People Say?|Rupert Hughes

British Dictionary definitions for polka

polka

/ (ˈpɒlkə) /

noun plural -kas

a 19th-century Bohemian dance with three steps and a hop, in fast duple time

a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

verb -kas, -kaing or -kaed

(intr) to dance a polka

Word Origin for polka

C19: via French from Czech pulka half-step, from pul half

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for polka

polka

A lively dance for couples, originating in eastern Europe.

notes for polka

Johann Strauss, the Younger wrote many polkas.