charanga

[ chuh-rahng-guh; Spanish chah-rahng-gah ]

noun

1. a type of Cuban dance music performed by violins, flutes, timbales, simple percussion instruments, piano, double bass, and vocalists.

charanga

/ ˌtʃæˈræŋɡə /

noun

1. a type of orchestra used in performing traditional Cuban music

Word History and Origins

Origin of charanga¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from Latin American Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico), shortening of charanga francesca “French band, Haitian Creole band,” from Spanish charanga “brass band, informal orchestra” + francesca “French.” Refugees from Haiti fleeing the Haitian Revolution in the early 19th century introduced the music and dance form into Cuba; charango ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of charanga¹

Spanish