conga

noun

con·​ga ˈkäŋ-gə 

1

: a Cuban dance of African origin involving three steps followed by a kick and performed by a group usually in single file

2

: a tall barrel-shaped or tapering drum of Afro-Cuban origin that is played with the hands

Illustration of conga

• conga 2

Examples of conga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was the addition of an exhilarating conga pattern, and piano keys and a trumpet section played by Arturo Sandoval. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 20 June 2025

Arnaz gained celebrity as the American popularizer of the conga, an Afro Cuban line dance that his father had once tried to ban. —Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025

And at the other end were people who’d play congas and timbales and Latin stuff. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025

Its distinctive sound is heavy on percussion instruments such as congas and cowbells, as well as brass horns. —Donna M. Owens, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, probably from feminine of congo black person, from Congo, region in Africa

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conga

• conga line

Rhymes for conga

• longa
• sanga

Kids Definition

conga

noun

con·​ga ˈkäŋ-gə 

1

: a Cuban dance of African origin performed by a group usually in single file

2

: a tall narrow drum that is played with the hands