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noun

rumba

rumba

Definition & meaning

Rumba is a feminine Spanish noun with two closely related meanings:

  1. A style of music and dance of Afro-Cuban origin, characterized by percussion, rhythm, singing, and dance.

    • La rumba cubana is a traditional Cuban musical genre.
    • La rumba flamenca is a lively flamenco-influenced style, especially associated with Spain.

  2. A party or night out, especially in informal Latin American Spanish. It can refer to an occasion involving music, dancing, and celebration.

    • Nos fuimos de rumba means “We went out partying.”
    • In some countries, especially Colombia and Venezuela, rumba is commonly used for a party or social celebration.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: feminine
  • Article: la
  • Plural: rumbas

The word is not normally divided into meaningful modern Spanish parts. Its origin is generally associated with Afro-Cuban speech and culture, although its exact etymology is uncertain. The musical meaning developed first, while the meaning “party” arose from the festive atmosphere traditionally associated with the music and dance.

Synonyms & antonyms

Depending on the meaning, possible synonyms include:

  • baile — “dance” or “dance event”; broader and more neutral than rumba.
  • fiesta — “party” or “celebration”; more general and not necessarily connected with dancing.
  • juerga — an informal, lively night of partying; often more colloquial than rumba.
  • parranda — a festive outing or celebration, particularly common in parts of Latin America.
  • danza — “dance”; more formal and focused on the art form rather than the social atmosphere.

There is no exact antonym for rumba. In the sense of a lively party, contextual opposites include:

  • calma — calmness
  • quietud — quiet or stillness
  • aburrimiento — boredom

Common phrases & collocations

  • bailar rumba — to dance rumba
  • irse de rumba — to go out partying
  • estar de rumba — to be out celebrating or partying
  • rumba cubana — Cuban rumba
  • rumba flamenca — flamenco rumba
  • rumba catalana — a Catalan style of rumba, associated especially with Barcelona and its surrounding areas

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Examples

Ellos bailan rumba en la fiesta.noun

They dance rumba at the party.

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