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bongo
1[ bong-goh, bawng- ]
/ ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /
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noun, plural bon·gos, (especially collectively) bon·go.
a reddish-brown antelope, Taurotragus eurycerus, of the forests of tropical Africa, having white stripes and large, spirally twisted horns.
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Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Origin of bongo
11860–65; probably < a Bantu language; compare Lingala mongu an antelope
Words nearby bongo
bone turquoise, bone up, boneyard, bonfire, bong, bongo, bon gré, mal gré, bonham, Bonheur, bonheur-du-jour, Bonhoeffer
Other definitions for bongo (2 of 2)
bongo2
[ bong-goh, bawng- ]
/ ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /
noun, plural bon·gos, bon·goes.
one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers.
Also called bongo drum .
Origin of bongo
2An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; from Latin American Spanish (Puerto Rico) bongó
OTHER WORDS FROM bongo
bon·go·ist, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use bongo in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bongo (1 of 3)
bongo1
/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /
noun plural -go or -gos
a rare spiral-horned antelope, Boocercus (or Taurotragus) eurycerus, inhabiting forests of central Africa. The coat is bright red-brown with narrow cream stripes
Word Origin for bongo
of African origin
British Dictionary definitions for bongo (2 of 3)
bongo2
/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /
noun plural -gos or -goes
a small bucket-shaped drum, usually one of a pair, played by beating with the fingers
Word Origin for bongo
American Spanish, probably of imitative origin
British Dictionary definitions for bongo (3 of 3)
Bongo
/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /
noun
Omar . original name Albert Bernard Bongo . 1935–2009, Gabonese statesman; president of Gabon (1967–2009)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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