mambo

[ mahm-boh ]

noun

, plural mam·bos.

1. a fast ballroom dance of Caribbean origin, rhythmically similar to the rumba and cha-cha but having a more complex pattern of steps.

verb (used without object)

1. to dance the mambo.

mambo

/ ˈmæmbəʊ /

noun

1. a modern Latin American dance, resembling the rumba, derived from the ritual dance of voodoo
2. a voodoo priestess

verb

1. intr to perform this dance

Word History and Origins

Origin of mambo¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from Caribbean Spanish (Cuba), from Haitian Creole manbo “ritual dance; Vodou priestess”; perhaps from Kongo màmbu, plural of diàmbu “ritual negotiation, message”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mambo¹

American Spanish, probably from Haitian Creole: voodoo priestess

Example Sentences

It was a harder, faster version of mambo, coming from the violin-and-flute-led style of charanga and danced in four-four steps.

From Washington Post

In this interview with ESSENCE, Andy Burton, founder of Andy Factory shares more on the significance of mambo sauce, why he created Uncle Dell’s Mambo Sauce, how he caught the entrepreneurial bug and what’s next for him after graduation.

From Essence.com

And acts like mambo king Pupi Campo and the energetic DeCastro Sisters made Las Vegas their new home.

From The Daily Beast

He started a group called the Hawkettes, which in 1954 recorded "Mardi Gras Mambo," a song still popular around New Orleans.

From The Daily Beast

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love By Oscar Hijuelos We love reading about the superstars of music.

From The Daily Beast

The music and Sophia singing “mambo Italiano” always makes us want to dance.

From The Daily Beast

("Mambo Sun") He was cool because he never straightened his hair.

From The Daily Beast

But the three men marched on unheeding till they stood before Mambo.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus sometimes the Molimo, or priest of Munwali, and the Mambo or chief were different persons.

From Project Gutenberg

"The white gold-seeker does not believe in spirits, and he defies them," Mambo repeated in his sing-song voice.

From Project Gutenberg