tango

American  

[tang-goh] / ˈtæŋ goʊ /

noun

plural

tangos

1. a ballroom dance of Latin American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses.

2. music for this dance.

3. a word used in communications to represent the letter T.

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verb (used without object)

tangoed, tangoing

1. to dance the tango.

tango ¹ British  

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a Latin American dance in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses

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

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verb

1. (intr) to perform this dance

Tango ² British  

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter t

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tango Cultural  

1. A sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century.

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Other Word Forms

• tangoist noun

Etymology

Origin of tango

First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish, possibly from a Niger-Congo language such as Ibibio tamgu “to dance”

Example Sentences

In one sequence, a solemn Gregorian chant pivots to a tango as Grace and Rocky’s ships connect airlock-to-airlock in spinning orbit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

"So this tango will likely continue on for a while."

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

It takes two to tango, but it was only she who paid the band.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

The men also have solo turns but the suite leaves only a passing impression, of postmodern tango mixed with occasional sleek social dancing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

It was the immutable tango between the Dumper and the Dumpee: the coming and the seeing and the conquering and the returning home.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green

Related Words

• disco
• samba
• waltz