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
plural bongo or bongos
: an African antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus) that is chestnut red with narrow white vertical stripes and is found in forests from Sierra Leone to Kenya
Examples of bongo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 May 2026
These new arrivals, currently quarantined and under constant observation, will interbreed with descendants of 18 bongos that arrived at the conservancy in 2004 from the United States to ensure a more diverse genetic pool.
—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
The accordion and percussive instruments like bongos, congas, timbales, cowbells and shakers form reggaeton beats and dancey tempos.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Hence Brando with his bongos, Day-Lewis with his cobbling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
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Noun
The Denver Zoo is celebrating its most recent addition, a bongo born last week.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 May 2026
These new arrivals, currently quarantined and under constant observation, will interbreed with descendants of 18 bongos that arrived at the conservancy in 2004 from the United States to ensure a more diverse genetic pool.
—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
The accordion and percussive instruments like bongos, congas, timbales, cowbells and shakers form reggaeton beats and dancey tempos.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
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 19 May. 2026.
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