merengue

[muh-reng-gey]

noun

1. a ballroom dance of Dominican and Haitian origin, characterized by a stiff-legged, limping step.

2. the music for this dance.

verb (used without object)

merengued, merenguing 

1. to dance the merengue.

merengue

/ məˈrɛŋɡeɪ /

noun

1. a type of lively dance music originating in the Dominican Republic, which combines African and Spanish elements

2. a Caribbean dance in duple time with syncopated rhythm performed to such music

Word History and Origins

Origin of merengue¹

First recorded in 1880–90; from Latin American Spanish merengue, meringue, and probably a special use of Spanish merengue meringue ( def. ), but the semantic development is unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of merengue¹

from American Spanish and Haitian Creole

Example Sentences

Colombian star Karol G won won song of the year for Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido, a lilting love song with a Merengue flavour, from her blockbuster fifth album Tropicoqueta.

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The roof of the Jet Set club in the capital Santo Domingo caved in early on April 8, during a concert by merengue star Rubby Perez.

Read more on Barron's

It’s a genre that emerged from people combining hip-hop, dancehall reggae and all manner of Latin American genres, like salsa and merengue.

Read more on Salon

There’s no merengue in English because there’s no need for merengue in English.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s salsa, merengue, South American folk, and “Dolce,” a gorgeous corrido tumbado about that infamous red dress that went viral.

Read more on Los Angeles Times