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Showing results for bongo. Search instead for bongos.

bongo

1 American  
[bong-goh, bawng-] / ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /

noun

plural

bongos,

plural

bongo

  1. a reddish-brown antelope, Taurotragus eurycerus, of the forests of tropical Africa, having white stripes and large, spirally twisted horns.

bongo 2 American  
[bong-goh, bawng-] / ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /

noun

plural

bongos, bongoes

  1. one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers.

Bongo 1 British  
/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

  1. Omar . original name Albert Bernard Bongo . 1935–2009, Gabonese statesman; president of Gabon (1967–2009)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bongo 2 British  
/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

  1. a rare spiral-horned antelope, Boocercus (or Taurotragus ) eurycerus , inhabiting forests of central Africa. The coat is bright red-brown with narrow cream stripes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bongo 3 British  
/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

  1. a small bucket-shaped drum, usually one of a pair, played by beating with the fingers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • bongoist noun

Etymology

Origin of bongo1

1860–65; probably < a Bantu language; compare Lingala mongu an antelope

Origin of bongo2

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; from Latin American Spanish (Puerto Rico) bongó

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The song boasts Grupo Frontera’s traditional norteño sound, with the addition of their signature bongo of course.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

On 16 October 2024, first-time mum Othaya welcomed her male bongo calf as part of an endangered species programme run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2024

Kenya’s benga and Tanzania’s bongo flava reverberate across dance floors in East Africa, just as fuji and high life do in West Africa.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

The lilting, understated guitars and pattering bongo drums of Dominican bachata usually carry songs of restrained regret.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2024

Ivette leaned back on the bed, her body moving in rhythm with the song’s mix of bongo drums and the distinct hollow sound of the claved.

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.