mambo

noun mam·bo \ ˈmäm-(ˌ)bō \

Updated on: 15 Mar 2018

Definition of mambo

plural mambos

: a ballroom dance of Cuban origin that resembles the rumba and the cha-cha; also : the music for this dance

—

mambo

intransitive verb

See mambo defined for English-language learners

See mambo defined for kids

Examples of mambo in a Sentence

They learned to dance the mambo.
The band played a mambo.

Recent Examples of mambo from the Web

See it: The Ball & Chain hosts shows, from salsa to jazz to mambo, from noon until late into the night.

— hannah hayes, Southern Living, "The South's Best Musical Landmarks," 26 Feb. 2018
One, Orkesta Mendoza, is a Tuscon, Ariz., act that turned from a tribute to Cuban mambo legend Pérez Prado into a fuller-time gig.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Top Milwaukee concerts this week: Brockhampton, Bon Iver, Stone Sour, Valerie June and more," 15 Feb. 2018
Un Tabaco Para Elegua’ The vocalist Pepito Gómez has a siren sound that reaches right back into the 1940s, when the punchy pop music known as mambo overtook Cuba.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Janelle Monáe Feels the Funk, and 13 More New Songs," 23 Feb. 2018
Skating first to a lively mix of mambo, samba and cha cha, and then to Coldplay, the pair known as the ShibSibs easily shouldered the responsibility of anchoring the U.S. squad, leading it to a bronze medal.

— Time, "Maia and Alex Shibutani Are Everyone's Favorite Skating Siblings. Here's How They Got to the Olympics," 19 Feb. 2018
Dolce & Gabbana’s mambo prints, every iteration of that print sold.

— mark holgate, Vogue, "Gucci to Off-White, Street to Sequins—And the Return of the Fanny Pack: What Sold in 2017?," 14 Dec. 2017
This Olympic season's short dance must use Rhumba rhythm plus any number of Latin American dance rhythms including samba, mambo, meringue, salsa, bachata and anything else related.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "A Rookie's Guide to Figure Skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics," 5 Dec. 2017
There are also brief interludes of him dancing tango, mambo, salsa and merengue.

— richy rosario, Billboard, "John Leguizamo's 'Latin History for Morons' Is a Timely Reminder Latinos Are an Indispensable Element of the American Fabric," 16 Nov. 2017
The 2018 sailing will include a visit to Costa Maya, Mexico and the Cayman Islands. Practiced by millions of people around the world, Zumba incorporates dance elements of hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo.

— gene sloan, USA TODAY, "September route roundup: Where cruise lines are adding sailings," 14 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of mambo

American Spanish

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1946

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

MAMBO Defined for English Language Learners

mambo

noun

Definition of mambo for English Language Learners

: a lively dance originally from Cuba
: the music for the mambo

Learn More about mambo

Spanish Central: Translation of mambo

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up mambo? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

mambo

Definition of mambo

mambo

Examples of mambo in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mambo from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mambo

MAMBO Defined for English Language Learners

mambo

Definition of mambo for English Language Learners

Learn More about mambo

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Spell It

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

mambo

Definition of mambo

mambo

Examples of mambo in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mambo from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mambo

MAMBO Defined for English Language Learners

mambo

Definition of mambo for English Language Learners

Learn More about mambo

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes