conga

play

noun con·ga \ ˈkäŋ-gə \

Definition of conga

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

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Recent Examples of conga from the Web

Although the Pompeyos had their adorable poodles dancing in conga lines across the stage Tuesday, the votes didn't fall in their favor.

— brooke metz, USA TODAY, "'America's Got Talent' eliminations: Escape artist Demian Aditya, more head home," 24 Aug. 2017
After Flansburgh encouraged people seated on the sides to stand up and come closer, a lengthy conga line snaked its way across the arena floor.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Gen Con rocks into 50 with They Might Be Giants," 18 Aug. 2017
Or swaying to the guitars, ballads and conga drums on the open-air plaza in the ancient town of Trinidad, where music plays for free all day and night.

— marla jo fisher, idahostatesman, "Why you should get to Cuba now," 14 July 2017
Then again, from the view of a teenager, what is a wedding but the ultimate party, complete with open bars, conga lines and a chance to meet a cute stranger?

— catherine hong, New York Times, "Summer Y.A. Escapes from Sarah Dessen, Andrew McCarthy and More," 12 July 2017
The conga-line of young replacements flash like lightning.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: Replay should never get it wrong," 6 July 2017
The lineup includes Castellanos, pianist Oscar Hernandez, saxophonist Justo Almario, trombonist Francisco Torres, conga player Joey de Leon, drummer Mike Holguin and more to be announced.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Star-studded Bayside Summer Nights concerts an opportunity to listen, watch and dance," 1 July 2017
And the conga line of hopefuls is still finding its way.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: Grades on trades for Reds pitching incomplete at best," 21 June 2017
Hundreds of program participants and peer buddies danced together and did the crowd favorites like the Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, and a conga line.

— bettina hansen, The Seattle Times, "Rare disorder cost her half her brain, but that doesn’t stop Kelley Fox from enjoying life," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conga.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of conga

Origin and Etymology of conga

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

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First Known Use: 1934

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CONGA Defined for English Language Learners

conga

play

noun

Definition of conga for English Language Learners

: a dance in which people follow each other in a long, curving line
: a tall drum that is shaped like a barrel and played with the hands

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See words that rhyme with conga Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conga

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