Quick Answer
Curtsy and curtsey are both correct. “Curtsy” is more common in American English, while “curtsey” is widely used in British English.

If you have ever wondered whether the correct spelling is curtsy or curtsey, you are not alone. These two forms look almost identical and refer to the same traditional gesture of respect, usually performed by bending the knees slightly while lowering the body. The main difference is spelling rather than meaning, and understanding which form is preferred can help you write more accurately and naturally.

Curtsy is the more common modern spelling and is generally the preferred form in contemporary English, while curtsey is an accepted variant that appears less frequently. Both can function as a noun or a verb, depending on the sentence. In this guide, we will compare curtsy vs. curtsey, explain their meanings, show how each is used, and provide clear examples to help you choose the right spelling with confidence.

Which One Is Correct?

Both Spellings Are Correct

Unlike many word pairs that contain one correct spelling and one common typo, curtsy and curtsey are both standard English words.

They have the same basic meaning: a traditional gesture of respect in which a person bends the knees and lowers the body slightly, often while keeping the upper body relatively upright.

The two spellings are also pronounced the same way.

So, if you write “She gave a curtsy” or “She gave a curtsey,” both sentences are grammatically correct.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Your choice can depend on the variety of English you are writing.

If you are writing for an American audience, curtsy will usually look more familiar.

If you are writing in British English, curtsey is a very natural choice and is widely recognized.

There is no need to treat one spelling as wrong. The important thing is to choose one form and use it consistently within the same piece of writing.

Meaning of Curtsy

What Does “Curtsy” Mean?

Curtsy is a noun and a verb.

As a noun, it means a formal or traditional gesture of respect made by bending the knees and lowering the body slightly.

Example:

“The performer made a graceful curtsy at the end of the show.”

As a verb, curtsy means to make this gesture.

Example:

“She curtsied before leaving the stage.”

The gesture has traditionally been associated with women and girls, particularly in formal social settings, royal ceremonies, dance, and theatrical performances.

What Does a Curtsy Look Like?

A traditional curtsy usually involves:

• Standing upright
• Moving one foot slightly behind or across the other
• Bending the knees
• Lowering the body
• Rising again smoothly

The exact movement can vary according to culture, occasion, and tradition.

A simple curtsy may be quite subtle. A ceremonial curtsy can be more formal and carefully performed.

Curtsy in Modern Use

The word is still used today, although everyday social situations rarely require people to perform a formal curtsy.

You may encounter it in:

• Ballet
• Historical performances
• Royal ceremonies
• Theater
• Traditional dance
• Formal events
• Children’s performances
• Stories about aristocratic or historical settings

In modern writing, the word can also describe a gesture made playfully or theatrically.

For example:

“She gave an exaggerated curtsy and smiled.”

Here, the gesture may not be genuinely formal. It can be used for humor or dramatic effect.

Meaning of Curtsey

Is “Curtsey” Correct?

Yes. Curtsey is a correct English spelling, not a misspelling of curtsy.

It has the same meaning and pronunciation as curtsy.

For example:

“The young dancer performed a graceful curtsey.”

This sentence is completely correct.

Why Does It Have an Extra “e”?

The spelling curtsey preserves more of the appearance of the older form of the word.

English spelling has changed over time, and words often develop shorter or alternative spellings as speakers use them in different regions.

The modern forms curtsy and curtsey developed side by side, and both have remained in use.

Where Is “Curtsey” Common?

Curtsey is especially associated with British English.

It can be found in British dictionaries, books, newspapers, historical writing, and descriptions of royal or formal ceremonies.

This does not mean British speakers never use curtsy. They do. It simply means that curtsey remains a well-established British spelling.

Key Differences Between Curtsy and Curtsey

Spelling

The clearest difference is the extra e.

• Curtsy
• Curtsey

The first has six letters.

The second has seven letters.

That small difference is responsible for much of the confusion.

Meaning

There is essentially no difference in meaning.

Both words describe the same traditional gesture of respect.

You can use either spelling when referring to:

• A formal bow like gesture
• A traditional gesture toward royalty
• A dance movement
• A theatrical gesture
• The act of bending the knees respectfully

Pronunciation

Both forms are pronounced the same way.

A common pronunciation is approximately:

KURT-see

The spelling does not change the pronunciation.

This is one reason the two words can be confusing in writing. Someone may know the word perfectly well when speaking but hesitate when spelling it.

Grammar

Both curtsy and curtsey can function as nouns and verbs.

As nouns:

• “She made a curtsy.”
• “She made a curtsey.”

As verbs:

• “She curtsied.”
• “She curtseyed.”

Both forms can also be used with ordinary grammatical structures.

Examples:

• “She will curtsy.”
• “She will curtsey.”
• “They watched her curtsy.”
• “They watched her curtsey.”

Usage

The biggest practical difference is not grammar but regional preference.

Curtsy is generally more common in American English.

Curtsey is strongly established in British English.

However, the distinction is not absolute. You may find either spelling in publications from either variety of English.

Recognition

Both forms are recognizable to English speakers.

Still, curtsy may feel more familiar to American readers, while curtsey may feel more traditional or distinctly British to some readers.

Neither spelling should be treated as an error simply because the other is more common in a particular country.

Curtsy vs. Curtsey in American and British English

American English

American dictionaries and general usage commonly favor curtsy.

For example:

“The actress gave a quick curtsy before walking backstage.”

The shorter spelling is usually the form an American reader is most likely to encounter.

British English

British English commonly uses curtsey, although curtsy is also accepted.

For example:

“The girl gave a polite curtsey.”

The spelling fits naturally into British writing, especially in contexts involving tradition, royalty, historical customs, or formal manners.

Is One More Formal?

Not necessarily.

It is tempting to think that curtsey sounds more formal because it has an extra letter and appears frequently in traditional contexts. However, the spelling itself does not make the word more formal.

The context creates the formal feeling.

Compare:

“She gave a graceful curtsy.”

and:

“She gave a graceful curtsey.”

Both sentences have the same level of formality.

Common Mistakes People Make

Mistake 1: Thinking “Curtsey” Is Wrong

Some people learn curtsy first and assume that curtsey is a spelling mistake.

That is incorrect.

Curtsey is a legitimate spelling.

Mistake 2: Thinking “Curtsy” Is an American-Only Word

Although curtsy is particularly common in American English, it is not restricted to the United States.

British English also uses curtsy.

Mistake 3: Using the Wrong Past Tense

The past tense changes according to the spelling.

For curtsy, use:

curtsied

For curtsey, use:

curtseyed

Examples:

• “She curtsied politely.”
• “She curtseyed politely.”

Both are correct.

Mistake 4: Writing “Curtsied” With “Curtsey”

If you choose the spelling curtsey, the corresponding past tense is normally curtseyed.

So avoid mixing the forms in formal writing.

Mistake 5: Confusing a Curtsy With a Bow

A curtsy and a bow are related gestures of respect, but they are not identical.

A bow generally involves bending the upper body forward.

A curtsy traditionally involves bending the knees while lowering the body.

The exact forms can vary depending on the culture or ceremony.

Mistake 6: Assuming the Gesture Is Always Serious

A curtsy can be formal, but it can also be playful.

Someone may make a deliberately exaggerated curtsy as a joke or as part of a performance.

The meaning depends on the situation.

Correct Usage Examples

Casual Examples

• “She gave a little curtsy and laughed.”
• “The child made a playful curtsy.”
• “He joked that she deserved a royal curtsy.”
• “She practiced her curtsy in front of the mirror.”

Using curtsy in casual writing is perfectly natural when the situation calls for it.

Professional Examples

• “The dancer finished her performance with a graceful curtsy.”
• “The performer made a formal curtsy before leaving the stage.”
• “The students learned how to perform a traditional curtsy.”
• “The ceremony ended with a respectful curtsy.”

These examples use the word in formal or organized settings.

Educational Examples

• “A curtsy is a traditional gesture of respect.”
• “The two spellings, curtsy and curtsey, have the same basic meaning.”
• “Curtsy is commonly preferred in American English.”
• “Curtsey is widely used in British English.”

Literary Examples

The word can add a historical or dramatic feeling to a scene.

• “She lowered herself into a graceful curtsy.”
• “With a playful curtsey, the heroine thanked her guests.”
• “The young lady offered a careful curtsy before the queen.”
• “He watched as she performed an exaggerated curtsy.”

In historical fiction, the word can help establish the manners and customs of a particular period.

Curtsy as a Noun

Singular Form

The singular noun is:

curtsy or curtsey

Examples:

• “She made a curtsy.”
• “She made a curtsey.”

Plural Form

The plural depends on the spelling you choose.

Curtsy → curtsies

Curtsey → curtseys

Examples:

• “The dancers performed several curtsies.”
• “The performers practiced their curtseys.”

Notice the spelling change in curtsies. The final y changes to ies.

This follows a common English spelling pattern.

Curtsy as a Verb

Present Tense

Both spellings can be used as verbs.

• “She curtsies before the audience.”
• “She curtseys before the audience.”

Past Tense

The forms are:

• curtsied
• curtseyed

Examples:

• “She curtsied before the queen.”
• “She curtseyed before the queen.”

Present Participle

The -ing forms are:

• curtsying
• curtseying

Examples:

• “She was curtsying to the guests.”
• “She was curtseying to the guests.”

These forms are less common in everyday writing because the action itself is relatively specific.

Word Origin and Etymology

Where Does “Curtsy” Come From?

The history of curtsy is closely connected with the word courtesy.

The gesture developed from the idea of showing politeness, respect, and social courtesy.

The word eventually became associated with the particular gesture traditionally made by women.

This connection can still be seen in the older spelling courtesy, from which the word developed through historical changes in pronunciation and spelling.

Where Does “Curtsey” Come From?

Curtsey has the same historical origin as curtsy.

The extra e reflects an older spelling tradition rather than a different meaning.

Over time, English speakers shortened and reshaped many words. Different spelling forms sometimes survived in different regions.

That is why modern English can contain two accepted spellings for the same word.

Why Is the Word Connected to “Courtesy”?

The connection makes sense when you consider the purpose of the gesture.

A curtsy was traditionally a physical display of:

• Respect
• Politeness
• Deference
• Courtesy
• Formal manners

The gesture was therefore closely tied to the social idea of showing courtesy to another person.

Why Did Both Spellings Survive?

English Allows Regional Variation

English is spoken across many countries, and spelling conventions are not always identical.

American and British English have developed different preferences for many words.

Examples include:

• color / colour
• honor / honour
• theater / theatre
• traveler / traveller

The difference between curtsy and curtsey is another example of variation, although the two forms do not follow exactly the same pattern as these more familiar pairs.

Historical Spellings Often Remain in Use

Once a word becomes established in writing, different versions can survive for centuries.

Books, dictionaries, newspapers, schools, and regional writing traditions can all help preserve alternative spellings.

That appears to be part of the story behind curtsy and curtsey.

Pronunciation Did Not Create a Clear Difference

Because both forms are pronounced essentially the same way, there was no strong spoken distinction forcing one spelling to disappear.

When people hear KURT-see, they cannot tell whether the writer intends curtsy or curtsey.

As a result, both written forms have remained understandable.

Is Curtsy More Common Than Curtsey?

Modern Preference

Curtsy is generally the more common spelling in American English.

Curtsey has a strong presence in British English and traditional writing.

However, frequency can change depending on the publication, country, historical period, and context.

You may see curtsey in American historical writing, just as you may see curtsy in British publications.

Which One Should English Learners Learn?

If you want one simple form to remember, curtsy is a useful choice because it is short and widely recognized.

But it is equally important to know that curtsey is not wrong.

Recognizing both forms will prevent confusion when reading books, articles, or British English materials.

Easy Memory Tricks

Remember the Short Form

Think:

Curtsy = short and simple

If you are unsure which spelling to use, curtsy is an easy form to remember.

Connect It With Courtesy

The word has a historical connection with courtesy.

You can use that connection to remember what a curtsy represents:

Curtsy → courtesy → respect

This links the word to its basic meaning.

Remember the British Connection

If you often read British English, remember:

Curtsey is a familiar British spelling.

This does not mean it is exclusively British, but it can help explain why you may encounter it frequently in British books and publications.

Remember the Past Tenses

Keep the spelling consistent:

Curtsy → curtsied

Curtsey → curtseyed

That simple pairing prevents one of the most common grammatical mistakes.

Curtsy or Curtsey: Final Comparison

FAQs

Is “curtsy” or “curtsey” correct?

Both curtsy and curtsey are correct English spellings. They have the same meaning and pronunciation. Curtsy is especially common in American English, while curtsey is widely used in British English.

Is curtsey a British spelling?

Curtsey is strongly associated with British English and is widely accepted there. However, it is not exclusively British, and curtsy is also used in British English.

What is the difference between curtsy and curtsey?

There is no significant difference in meaning. Both words describe a traditional gesture of respect involving a slight lowering of the body by bending the knees. The main difference is spelling preference.

How do you pronounce curtsy and curtsey?

Both curtsy and curtsey are commonly pronounced KURT-see. The extra “e” in curtsey does not create a different pronunciation.

What is the past tense of curtsy?

The past tense of curtsy is curtsied. For example: “She curtsied before the audience.”

What is the past tense of curtsey?

The past tense of curtsey is curtseyed. For example: “She curtseyed politely before leaving.”

What is the plural of curtsy?

The plural of curtsy is curtsies. For example: “The dancers performed several curtsies at the end of the show.”

What is the plural of curtsey?

The plural of curtsey is curtseys. For example: “The performers practiced their curtseys before the ceremony.”

Conclusion

Curtsy and curtsey are both correct spellings for the same traditional gesture of respect. Curtsy is more common in American English, while curtsey remains especially familiar in British English. Both forms can work as nouns and verbs, with slightly different spelling patterns in their plural and past-tense forms. The easiest rule is simple: choose the spelling that fits your variety of English and use it consistently.

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Christopher Parker

Christopher Parker is a writer and blogger at GramScript.com, sharing thoughtful insights and engaging stories across a range of topics. His writing blends clarity, curiosity, and a distinctly human perspective.