berimbau

[buh-rim-bou, bey-reenm-bou]

noun

1. a musical instrument consisting of a steel string on a bow-shaped wooden pole, with a gourd resonator attached to its base, the string being struck with a stick.

berimbau

/ berɪ̃ˈbau /

noun

1. a Brazilian single-stringed bowed instrument, used to accompany capoeira

Word History and Origins

Origin of berimbau¹

1960–65; < Portuguese < Kimbundu mri-rimbau

Word History and Origins

Origin of berimbau¹

from the quimbundo (an Angolan language) word mbirimbau

Example Sentences

A berimbau, the one-stringed percussion instrument prized in Bahia, Brazil, twangs its way through this song by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes.

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Musicians in the roda sing and play Brazilian instruments — keeping the beat on the single string of a berimbau or a pandeiro drum.

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One of the most intriguing is the berimbau, which consists of a steel string and the hollowed-out husk of a gourd-like fruit, and is played with a wooden bow.

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At one point you also hear a kalimba and berimbau and didgeridoo all at the same time.

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NB: There's a berimbau at the start of Afro Left.

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