: a Cuban dance of African origin involving three steps followed by a kick and performed by a group usually in single file
2
: a tall barrel-shaped or tapering drum of Afro-Cuban origin that is played with the hands
Illustration of conga
conga 2
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Its distinctive sound is heavy on percussion instruments such as congas and cowbells, as well as brass horns.—Donna M. Owens, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025 The conga dance craze that would soon sweep the U.S. had arrived.—Raj Tawney, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2024 The performers manipulate five batteries of drums, including timpani, snares, congas, bongos, tom-toms, and bass drums.—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 Arnaz played Manuelito Lynch, one of the hunks who also happened to sing and beat the conga drum.—Raj Tawney, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for conga
Word History
Etymology
American Spanish, probably from feminine of congo black person, from Congo, region in Africa
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