bongo
noun
bon·go
ˈbäŋ-(ˌ)gō 
ˈbȯŋ-
plural bongos also bongoes
: one of a pair of small connected drums of different sizes and pitches played with the hands
Examples of bongo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Conservation experts estimate there are fewer than 100 mountain bongos living in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
—
Katie Langford, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
Congas, bongos, and a Creole conch shell sit alongside guitar, keyboards, and horns.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 18 May 2026
Zoo officials encouraged the community to drop by and visit the bongos and their newborn.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 May 2026
When the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy was opened in 2004, 18 descendants of these bongos were imported and have since interbred, bringing the conservancy’s population to 102 bongos.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The conservatory cannot accept pianos, organs, kazoos, recorders, hand drums, cajons, frame drums, congas or bongos this year.
—Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Mechanical hand drums subtly reinforce the connection between this music and what a group of inspired stoners might be able to achieve with acoustic guitars and a set of bongos.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
The eight bongos were supposed to join 17 others that made the journey from Florida to Kenya in February 2025 on a flight sponsored by DHL.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Hence Brando with his bongos, Day-Lewis with his cobbling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
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Katie Langford, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
Congas, bongos, and a Creole conch shell sit alongside guitar, keyboards, and horns.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 18 May 2026
Zoo officials encouraged the community to drop by and visit the bongos and their newborn.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 May 2026
When the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy was opened in 2004, 18 descendants of these bongos were imported and have since interbred, bringing the conservancy’s population to 102 bongos.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The conservatory cannot accept pianos, organs, kazoos, recorders, hand drums, cajons, frame drums, congas or bongos this year.
—Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Mechanical hand drums subtly reinforce the connection between this music and what a group of inspired stoners might be able to achieve with acoustic guitars and a set of bongos.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
The eight bongos were supposed to join 17 others that made the journey from Florida to Kenya in February 2025 on a flight sponsored by DHL.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Hence Brando with his bongos, Day-Lewis with his cobbling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bongo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bongo. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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