soukous

noun

sou·​kous ˈsü-ˌküs How to pronounce soukous (audio)
: popular guitar-driven dance music created in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the influence of Cuban rumba

Word History

Etymology

African French (of Brazzaville and Kinshasa) soucous, soukous, a dance popular in the late 1960s, alteration of French secousse jolt, jerk

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soukous was in 1982

Browse Nearby Words

souk
soukous
soul
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Cite this Entry

“Soukous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soukous. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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