flamenco
noun
Did you know?
The Spanish word flamenco means “Flemish,” and its later usage in the sense “Gypsy-like,” especially in reference to a song, dance, and guitar-music style, has inspired a number of hypotheses about why the word flamenco came to be associated with Gypsies; however, all of these theories seem implausible. Perhaps more promisingly, in the later 19th century flamenco also meant “jaunty, cocky” and, in reference to women, “provocatively attractive,” The suggestion has been made that “Gypsylike” is a secondary development from these senses. The ordinary Spanish word for “Gypsy” is gitano, which like the English Gypsy, is altered from a word meaning “Egyptian.”
Examples of flamenco in a Sentence
Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
The market hall space will be taken over by the celebration and will host DJs, vendors, food trucks, musical performances, a live flamenco performance and more.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Before Cibeles, his latest release had been ‘No me contradigas’ (Don’t contradict me) with flamenco group Los Yakis last year.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
After Ne-Yo left festival goers on their feet dancing, some soul and flamenco stylings came courtesy of Paul Carrack and Gipsy Kings By Diego Baliardo, respectively.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flamenco
Cite this Entry
“Flamenco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flamenco. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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