jota

American  

[hoh-tuh, haw-tah] / ˈhoʊ tə, ˈhɔ tɑ /

noun

• jotas
  plural

1. a Spanish dance in triple meter, performed by a couple and marked by complex rhythms executed with the heels and castanets.

2. the music for this dance.

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jota British  

/ ˈxɔta /

noun

1. a Spanish dance with castanets in fast triple time, usually to a guitar and voice accompaniment

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• jotas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of jota

1840–50; < Spanish, probably Old Spanish sota dance, derivative of sotar to dance < Latin saltāre

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jota jotas

“We danced a jota — that was a country dance. And we played castanets. My mom let me put on lipstick — I was so thrilled.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 25, 2021

Children grow up learning to dance the jota and boleros and to play works by Mozart and Stravinsky, with flamenco coursing through their veins as well.

From New York Times ● Jun. 19, 2014

Falla's score is a gem, and the orchestra zipped through its fandangos, seguidillas and final jota in solid but sparkling style.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 26, 2013

Glinting flutes and harp set up the rhythm of a jota, strings scurry, the xylophone rattles, and Ravel explodes his whole, massive orchestra as the Rapsodie sweeps to a close in exuberant, gloriously splashy celebration.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 29, 2012

This effect is produced by the frequent repetition of a guttural aspirate which is like the sound of the Spanish jota.

From Holland, v. 1 (of 2) by Helen Zimmern

Enrique Granados y Campina named his Goyescas after one of his favorite painters, lavishing the color and romanticism of old melodic Spanish fandangos and jotas on his sometimes morbid, more often gay suites.

From Time Magazine Archive

The jotas continued and the scent of mignonette increased.

From The Bright Shawl by Joseph Hergesheimer

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