reggaeton

American  

[reg-ey-tohn] / ˌrɛg eɪˈtoʊn /

Or reggaetón

noun

1. a type of contemporary popular music, originating in the housing projects of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and other urban centers of poverty in Latin America, characterized by rap lyrics in Spanish and a vigorous percussive beat that rises and falls.

   mainstream artists embracing reggaeton.

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reggaeton British  

/ ˌrɛɡeɪˈtɒn /

noun

1. a type of Puerto Rican popular music that combines reggae rhythms with hip-hop influences and includes rapping in Spanish

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Etymology

Origin of reggaeton

First recorded in 2000–05; from Spanish, equivalent to reggae ( def. ) + -tón (as in maratón “marathon”); see origin at -athon ( def. )

Example Sentences

“You don’t have to be afraid of the same references, of this sound, this type of music. It’s not just reggaeton or just rap.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

At the gate, Venezuelan and U.S. officials, lawmakers, Miami influencers and journalists mingled over cafecitos and arepas as a DJ played reggaeton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The Colombian artist’s energetic set not only incorporated salsa, merengue and reggaeton classics — it also paid homage to regional Mexican music, with help from the Latin Grammy-nominated ensemble, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Colombian reggaeton star Karol G is set to turn up the heat in the California desert even further on Sunday with a performance capping the Coachella music festival's first weekend.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Instead I’m locked in a small room that smells like chorizo and stale popcorn while my archenemy continues to brainwash the community with reggaeton and free sunscreen.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya