fandango

American  

[fan-dang-goh] / fænˈdæŋ goʊ /

noun

fandangos plural

1. a lively Spanish or Spanish American dance in triple time, performed by a man and woman playing castanets.

2. a piece of music for such a dance or one having its rhythm.

3. (especially in the southwest U.S.) a ball or dance.

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fandango British  

/ fænˈdæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. an old Spanish courtship dance in triple time between a couple who dance closely and provocatively

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• fandangos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fandango

First recorded in 1765–70; < Spanish, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Portuguese fadango (unattested), from fado fado ( def. )

Explanation

Long before it was a website for buying movie tickets, fandango was (and still is) a seductive Spanish dance for two. You'll want to grab your castanets before you hit the dance floor, because those are required for authenticity as you dance the fandango. A fandango involves a lot of twirling and you'd better be quick, because this triple-time dance is not for dancing novices. Also, it helps to pick someone you're dating or have a crush on, because this is a dance for lovers.

Example Sentences

Haldane branded the months of speculation about potential Budget measures a "fiscal fandango".

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

With its Baroque-flavored organ solo and mysterious opening line - "We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor" — the song became one of the signature tunes of the 1967 "Summer of Love."

From Fox News • Feb. 23, 2022

With its Baroque-flavored organ solo and mysterious opening line – “We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor” — the song became one of the signature tunes of the 1967 “Summer of Love.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2022

There were romances and the early, original forms of all those Spanish dances that went on to pervade Europe and the world at large, such as the fandango and seguidilla.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2020

"Or if the fandango is too hard, there always remains the bolero."

From Sinister Street, vol. 2 by MacKenzie, Compton