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• bongo
  bongo

  noun

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

  noun

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

bongo

¹ American  

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

noun

• bongos,
  plural
• bongo
  plural

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

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bongo ² American  

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

noun

• bongos,
  plural
• bongoes
  plural

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

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Bongo ¹ British  

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

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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

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bongo ³ British  

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bongoist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bongo
  plural
• bongoes
  plural
• bongos
  plural

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bongo Bongo bongos

The award-winning artist is beloved for his "bongo flava" hits.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

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

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

In snippets from the Season 2 trailer, we see Misty dressed in purple, banging on a bongo alongside a bunch of Lottie's followers.

From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2023

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

"Our Sunday vinyl sessions put a big focus on Teesside's music scene from the Rock Garden to the Bongo Club. We hope to do these again."

From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026

Ali Bongo was in power for 14 years before he was ousted.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2025

Ex-president Ali Bongo was toppled in a coup on August 30, 2023, which brought General Brice Oligui Nguema to power.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025

The Bongo family ruled Gabon for more than five decades.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2025

Once night had fallen, I sent Bongo on her next mission.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate

Settles-Bey sways to the rhythm of the bongos on a recent Sunday in the park -- but nerves are still frayed.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

"Electric guitar, speakers, guitar pedals, a guitar amp, a trumpet, some sort of bongos, some pads for my computer music equipment," he recalls buying.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026

He was equally compelling on acoustic guitar for Jane’s trademark lyrically and musically poignant true tale “Jane Says,” backed by bongos and steel drums.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2024

The music seemed to levitate with the centrifugal force of rampaging bongos.

From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2023

Feynman sat on the hood of a jeep, playing bongos as people danced in the dirt streets.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

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