mambo

noun

mam·​bo ˈmäm-(ˌ)bō How to pronounce mambo (audio)
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

Examples of mambo in a Sentence

They learned to dance the mambo. The band played a mambo.
Recent Examples on the Web An exaltation of the summers of his youth, Bad Bunny’s fourth album also serves as a crash course in Caribbean musical syncretism, in which elements of reggaetón, trap, house, and Dominican mambo are craftily shaken and stirred. Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024 The wedding also featured several performances by Italian mambo dancers, the band Krystal Kuartet, while Victor Angelov served as both the deejay and violinist, and Anaheim saxophone. Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024 The charming ensemble, led by singer Catalina García and musician Santiago Prieto, has always blended a sound that’s eclectic, sweet, and a little twee, with flashes of old-school swing, Latin jazz, and mambo. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2023 Earning the nickname the King of Latin Music, the multi-hyphenate musician put Caribbean styles — including mambo, salsa, boogaloo, cha-cha-cha, rumba, guaracha and Afro-Cuban jazz — on the global map. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for mambo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mambo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mambo was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near mambo

Cite this Entry

“Mambo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mambo. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

mambo

noun
mam·​bo ˈmäm-bō How to pronounce mambo (audio)
plural mambos
: a dance of Haitian origin related to the rumba
mambo verb

More from Merriam-Webster on mambo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!