Cinco de Mayo

noun

ˌsiŋ-kō-də-ˈmī-ō 

ˌsēŋ-kō-t͟hā-ˈmä-yō

: a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862

Examples of Cinco de Mayo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gere and Silva kept the celebration going in May, throwing a wedding party on Cinco de Mayo at Gere’s estate in Pound Ridge, New York. — Ale Russian, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

When a massive riot erupted at Soledad on Cinco de Mayo in 1968, Trejo hurled a rock that smashed a prison guard in the head. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026

An idea that once seemed like a long shot is now entirely within the realm of possibility — in a moment of kismet, halfway through Cinco de Mayo, the entire cast got the news that they were renewed for a second season. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026

Officers had just begun shutting down the restaurant's Cinco de Mayo event after a fight broke out. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, fifth of May

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Cinco de Mayo

• buteo
• cacao
• vireo

Kids Definition

Cinco de Mayo

noun

ˌsiŋ-kō-də-ˈmī-ō 

ˌsēŋ-kō-t͟hā-ˈmä-yō

: a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in honor of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862

Etymology

Spanish, "fifth of May"