reggaeton

American

[reg-ey-tohn] / ˌrɛg eɪˈtoʊn /

Or reggaetón

noun

a type of contemporary popular music, originating in the housing projects of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and other urban centers of poverty in Latin America, characterized by rap lyrics in Spanish and a vigorous percussive beat that rises and falls.

mainstream artists embracing reggaeton.

reggaeton British

/ ˌrɛɡeɪˈtɒn /

noun

a type of Puerto Rican popular music that combines reggae rhythms with hip-hop influences and includes rapping in Spanish

"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 reggaeton

First recorded in 2000–05; from Spanish, equivalent to reggae ( def. ) + -tón (as in maratón “marathon”); see origin at -athon ( def. )

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.

At the gate, Venezuelan and U.S. officials, lawmakers, Miami influencers and journalists mingled over cafecitos and arepas as a DJ played reggaeton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

People are always very surprised that I speak Spanish and love all kinds of Latin music, like reggaeton.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Medina stopped by the vintage market organized by Bichota Records to channel the reggaeton star's signature look.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Colombian reggaeton star Karol G is set to turn up the heat in the California desert even further on Sunday with a performance capping the Coachella music festival's first weekend.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

For a few days, Enrique stays cooped up in his bedroom, listening to reggaeton music.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023