Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

habanera

American  
[hah-buh-nair-uh, -nyair-uh] / ˌhɑ bəˈnɛər ə, -ˈnjɛər ə /

noun

  1. a dance of Cuban origin.

  2. the music for this dance, having a slow duple meter and a rhythm similar to that of a tango.


habanera British  
/ ˌhæbəˈnɛərə /

noun

  1. a slow Cuban dance in duple time

  2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of habanera

1875–80; < Spanish ( danza ) habanera (dance) of Havana

Vocabulary lists containing habanera

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.

See Examples For:

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

They work loosely but purposefully, fleshing out a habanera rhythm in “This Magic Moment,” and spinning a shroud of mystery around “Gypsy Woman.”

From New York Times Jan. 21, 2013

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

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training