berimbau

[ buh-rim-bou; Portuguese bey-reenm-bou ]

noun

1. a musical instrument consisting of a steel string on a bow-shaped wooden pole, with a gourd resonator attached to its base, the string being struck with a stick.

berimbau

/ berɪ̃ˈbau /

noun

1. a Brazilian single-stringed bowed instrument, used to accompany capoeira

Word History and Origins

Origin of berimbau¹

1960–65; < Portuguese < Kimbundu mri-rimbau

Word History and Origins

Origin of berimbau¹

from the quimbundo (an Angolan language) word mbirimbau

Example Sentences

A berimbau, the one-stringed percussion instrument prized in Bahia, Brazil, twangs its way through this song by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes.

From New York Times

Musicians in the roda sing and play Brazilian instruments — keeping the beat on the single string of a berimbau or a pandeiro drum.

From Seattle Times

One of the most intriguing is the berimbau, which consists of a steel string and the hollowed-out husk of a gourd-like fruit, and is played with a wooden bow.

From New York Times

At one point you also hear a kalimba and berimbau and didgeridoo all at the same time.

From Slate

NB: There's a berimbau at the start of Afro Left.

From BBC