bachata

American  

[bah-chah-tah] / bɑˈtʃɑ tɑ /

noun

1. a contemporary genre of Latin American popular music, in the style of a ballad, featuring guitars, percussion, and singing.

   On Thursdays, they have a band that plays nothing but bachata.

2. a song performed in the musical style of bachata.

   The lyrics to this bachata are from a traditional hymn.

3. a partnered dance of Dominican origin, performed to the music of bachata, traditionally danced in eight-count box steps with a sequence of three steps and a tap, with modern variations that include steps from other Latin ballroom dances.

   Part of the ballroom competition is a six-minute bachata.

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Etymology

Origin of bachata

First recorded in 1955–60; from Caribbean Spanish; origin uncertain

Explanation

Bachata is a rhythmic style of music that originated in the Dominican Republic. Its signature sound is driven by melodic guitar and sharp percussion, featuring bongos and a handheld metal scraper known as a güira. Bachata is derived from Caribbean Spanish, and the word itself literally means "a party" or "a good time." This musical genre is inseparable from its dance counterpart; the term describes the music genre, a song in the genre, and the dance performed to the music. Dating back to the 1950s, bachata evolved from a localized folk tradition into a global phenomenon in the 1990s.

Example Sentences

After traveling to the Dominican Republic to record for nearly three decades, De Menil says he wanted to create something that would ensure that the next generation continues the traditions of bachata.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Yet by the 2010s it was apparent that another genre was taking hold of the Latin dance scene: bachata, ushered in by smooth-singing New York stars like Prince Royce and Romeo Santos.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

Niche genres like salsa, bachata, rock and electronica stayed relevant by basking in the beauty of their roots.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

The LP continues Shakira’s career-long penchant for pulling together music and collaborators from across the Americas, dipping into rock, electro-pop, trap, Dominican bachata, Nigerian-style Afrobeats and regional Mexican cumbia and polka.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2024

Then things get real quiet even though the beat coming from the music in the store switches from mellow bachata to earsplitting salsa.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles