merengue

[muh-reng-gey]

noun

1. a ballroom dance of Dominican and Haitian origin, characterized by a stiff-legged, limping step.

2. the music for this dance.

verb (used without object)

merengued, merenguing 

1. to dance the merengue.

merengue

/ məˈrɛŋɡeɪ /

noun

1. a type of lively dance music originating in the Dominican Republic, which combines African and Spanish elements

2. a Caribbean dance in duple time with syncopated rhythm performed to such music

Word History and Origins

Origin of merengue¹

First recorded in 1880–90; from Latin American Spanish merengue, meringue, and probably a special use of Spanish merengue meringue ( def. ), but the semantic development is unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of merengue¹

from American Spanish and Haitian Creole

Example Sentences

There’s salsa, merengue, South American folk, and “Dolce,” a gorgeous corrido tumbado about that infamous red dress that went viral.

From Los Angeles Times

Also sprinkled throughout the record are buoyant Caribbean tracks, like the already popular merengue hit “Vagabundo,” featuring Manuel Turizo and Beéle, and “2AM,” his reggaeton collaboration with Bad Gyal that revamps Dido’s 1999 song “Thank You.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police lieutenant Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte was one of the 231 people killed when the roof of the Jet Set music venue collapsed during a merengue music concert.

From BBC

Hundreds were inside the building on Monday evening to attend one of the club's regular dance music evenings, which on this particular occasion starred popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

From BBC

The percussionist, who had moved to the Dominican Republic eight years earlier, was out with his mother, Carmin, and friends to see a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

From BBC