: 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
Examples of conga in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebHer father, a longshoreman, played the conga and had sung with the Cuban bandleader Machito.—Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 18 June 2024 The title phrase came from a Nigerian musician friend in London, the conga player Jimmy Scott.—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2024 The three-song set highlights the elegance of live instruments such as a saxophone, trumpets, trombones, conga, and güira with charming musical arrangements, writes Billboard Español‘s Luisa Calle.—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 9 Feb. 2024 The bridge rhythmically is almost like a bongo/conga part.—Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024 But the setup is novel: there’s a grid of custom, free-standing conga drums, on adjustable-height steel frames, in the center of the room and a line of heavy bags, like boxers use, against a wall of mirrors.—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023 The cells were forming filaments that snaked over the plate like unruly lines of conga dancers.—Peter Radetsky, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Percussionist Larry McDonald’s hands and arms fly into a frenzy on the congas, long grey dreads swaying, eyes both fierce and warm.—Heather Augustyn, Spin, 10 Oct. 2023 At his signal, the strings went off on a pizzicato run, buoyed by harps and congas, before dissolving into a bass drum pulse beneath simmering horns.—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conga.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
American Spanish, probably from feminine of congo black person, from Congo, region in Africa
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