"Practice" is to develop a skill in general; "rehearse" is to prepare a specific performance.
To do something repeatedly to develop or maintain a skill. General and ongoing.
She practices piano for two hours every day without exception.
Ella practica piano dos horas cada dia sin excepcion.
You should practice speaking English with native speakers as much as possible.
Deberias practicar hablar ingles con hablantes nativos lo mas posible.
He practiced medicine for forty years before retiring.
El ejercio la medicina durante cuarenta anos antes de jubilarse.
To rehearse something specific (a play, a speech, a song) for a concrete performance or presentation.
The cast rehearsed for three months before the opening night.
El elenco ensayo durante tres meses antes de la noche de estreno.
She rehearsed her speech in front of the mirror a dozen times.
Ella ensayo su discurso frente al espejo una docena de veces.
We need to rehearse the scene again. It still does not feel right.
Necesitamos ensayar la escena de nuevo. Aun no se siente bien.
Common mistake
Using "practice" when talking about preparing a specific performance: "We practiced the play" sounds more informal than "We rehearsed the play." "Rehearse" implies there is an upcoming performance with an audience. "Practice" is the general skill-development process. You can "practice" piano your whole life; you "rehearse" the Christmas concert the week before the event.
Trick to remember it
Question: is there a specific upcoming event with an audience or evaluation? "Rehearse". Is it general skill development without a concrete event? "Practice". Keywords that go with "rehearse": play, speech, presentation, specific concert, ceremony, interview. Keywords that go with "practice": language, sport, instrument (in general), profession.
Quick rule
Practice = develop a skill in general. Rehearse = prepare for a specific performance.
Did you know?
"Dress rehearsal" is the final rehearsal before a performance, done in full costume. In theater tradition, a superstition says a bad dress rehearsal predicts a good opening night ("bad dress rehearsal, good opening night"). It is a form of positive psychology so actors do not get discouraged if the final rehearsal goes poorly.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The choir _____ every Tuesday evening to prepare for the winter concert.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She _____ her French every day using a language learning app.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Practice = develop a skill in general. Rehearse = prepare for a specific performance.
Using "practice" when talking about preparing a specific performance: "We practiced the play" sounds more informal than "We rehearsed the play." "Rehearse" implies there is an upcoming performance with an audience. "Practice" is the general skill-development process. You can "practice" piano your whole life; you "rehearse" the Christmas concert the week before the event.
Question: is there a specific upcoming event with an audience or evaluation? "Rehearse". Is it general skill development without a concrete event? "Practice". Keywords that go with "rehearse": play, speech, presentation, specific concert, ceremony, interview. Keywords that go with "practice": language, sport, instrument (in general), profession.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy