habanera
Americannoun
-
a dance of Cuban origin.
-
the music for this dance, having a slow duple meter and a rhythm similar to that of a tango.
noun
-
a slow Cuban dance in duple time
-
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
Etymology
Origin of habanera
1875–80; < Spanish ( danza ) habanera (dance) of Havana
Vocabulary lists containing habanera
Central America and the Caribbean - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Central America and the Caribbean - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dance - Middle School and High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Mr. Smith’s syncopated keyboard style reflected the influence of his early idol, Professor Longhair, who combined boogie-woogie with habanera and rumba rhythms.
From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2023
Afro-Cuban rhythms like the habanera have fed into Afro-American music as early as the 19th century.
From Reuters • Jan. 24, 2023
You could sense history in the various dances of the pianists’ left hands: the slinky syncopations of habanera; the manic but metronomic bounce, in swing, as if between two trampolines.
From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2018
Handy's band in 1918 - he is in the centre holding a trumpet In 1914, Handy followed up Memphis Blues with his next hit, another 12-bar blues piece with a 16-bar habanera section.
From BBC • Dec. 30, 2012
Bizet’s habanera was itself an adaptation of a song, ‘El arreglito’, by the Spanish composer Sebastian de Iradier, who had visited Cuba in 1861 and been enchanted by its dances.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
