maraca

American  

[muh-rah-kuh, -rak-uh] / məˈrɑ kə, -ˈræk ə /

noun

• maracas
  plural

1. a gourd or a gourd-shaped rattle filled with seeds or pebbles and used, often in a pair, as a rhythm instrument.

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maraca British  

/ məˈrækə /

noun

1. a percussion instrument, usually one of a pair, consisting of a gourd or plastic shell filled with dried seeds, pebbles, etc. It is used chiefly in Latin American music

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• maracas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of maraca

1815–25; < Portuguese < Tupi maráka

Explanation

A maraca is a musical instrument that you shake — the stones or beans rattle against the hollow case in time to the beat of the music. If the violin seems a bit too complicated to learn, try out some maracas! Maracas are percussion instruments commonly used in Latin and Caribbean music. They mark the beat like drums do, and they are fairly simple to play. Most traditional maracas are made out of dried, hollow gourds or coconut shells, and they're filled with dry beans or pebbles. The word maraca comes from the Portuguese, via a Brazilian language called Tupi. In some French-speaking parts of the world, maracas are called "shac-shacs."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

maraca maracas

A crochet maraca shakes along a funky bassline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2024

Another attendee was Naldinho Kumaruara, 29, a spiritual leader wearing a crown of blue macaw feathers and a necklace made of snake bones, and who held a giant maraca in his hand.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 7, 2023

In Indigenous communities from the Amazon to the Caribbean, the shaman’s maraca opens the channel to the spirit realm.

From New York Times ● Sep. 15, 2021

He wore a long headdress of blue macaw feathers and held a maraca.

From Reuters ● Aug. 25, 2021

The herbs shift rhythmically in my sack like the seeds of a maraca.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

A maracas solo by Ernesto Laya, however, seemed to be too soft to be picked up by the microphones, yet he held a cheering crowd rapt simply by his rhythmic movements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Whether it's tapping a keyboard, playing the recorder or mastering the maracas, lots of us have probably had similar experiences of music lessons in school.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2024

The maker of maracas, hammocks and ceramics does not see his vote as automatically transferable.

From Seattle Times ● May 15, 2024

There are brightly painted maracas and Valentine’s Day teddy bears.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 7, 2023

Abuela walks outside shaking two cans of evaporated milk like a pair of maracas.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina