conjunto

American  

[kuhn-hoon-toh, kawn-hoon-taw] / kənˈhʊn toʊ, kɔnˈhun tɔ /

noun

• conjuntos
  plural

1. (in Latin America or Hispanic communities) a dance band comprised of an accordion, a twelve-string bass guitar, a double bass, and drums.

2. this style of popular dance music, based on polka, waltz, and bolero rhythms.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• conjuntos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conjunto

First recorded in 1995–2000; from Spanish: literally, “ensemble”; see origin at conjunct ( def. ), junta

Explanation

Conjunto is Latin American dance music that blends German and Mexican sounds. It’s popular in Hispanic communities, in Texas, and wherever world music is played. Look conjunto up on your streaming service and add some to your playlist! The word conjunto is borrowed from Spanish, where it means "ensemble," another word for a musical group. How did the strands of Mexican and German music come together? In the late 1800s, Mexico received many German immigrants, who brought their accordions, songs, and dances with them. As the Germans got involved in Mexican culture, their music and dances — such as polkas and waltzes — had an influence on some of the music around them. And conjunto was born!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conjunto conjuntos

It formed as an eight-piece Cuban conjunto, which ditched the traditional jazzy saxophone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

Harlow’s move away from búgalu to a jazz-influenced update on Rodríguez’s more Africanized conjunto sound — which added more trumpets and percussion like conga and cowbell — was crucial for salsa’s gestation.

From New York Times ● Aug. 24, 2021

Los Texmaniacs The Grammy-winning conjunto band performs its signature Tex-Mex music as part of the grand opening of the west wing of the museum’s second floor.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 20, 2017

Snyder’s Texas isn’t very Texan: no conjunto music or Lockhart smokehouses, no dynastic San Antonio Spurs, no mesquite and no mesas.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2013

Perched on the steps, an old-fashioned radio played conjunto music, and on the shaded porch, sitting in a rocking chair, a skinny old man gazed at the horizon.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

The above scene is from “Chulas Fronteras,” a 1976 documentary about life on the United States-Mexico border and the accordion-driven conjuntos that served as the soundtrack to the region.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2025