soca

American  

[soh-kah] / ˈsoʊ kɑ /

noun

1. a style of Caribbean dance music derived from calypso and American soul music and having a pounding beat.

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SOCA ¹ British  

/ ˈsəʊkə /

acronym

1. Serious Organized Crime Agency: a British government organization set up in 2004 specifically to combat organized crime

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soca ² British  

/ ˈsəʊkə /

noun

1. a mixture of soul and calypso music typical of the E Caribbean

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Etymology

Origin of soca

1975–80; so(ul) + ca(lypso)

Example Sentences

In a country where most youngsters her age are listening to Caribbean soca and dancehall, Emily is something of an anomaly.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2023

You hear some soca and reggaeton influences; you also hear a touch of go-go, something that’s so integral to your band’s sound.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2022

AuxGod offers four versions of the game based on music genres: pop; hip-hop and R&B; soca and dancehall; and country.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2022

As soon as we came close to a band filled with big trucks blasting soca, we jumped out of the bus, excited to be lost in the sea of revelers.

From Salon • Feb. 27, 2022

The soca music played on as she worked on another section of her hair, hectic steel pan and percussion thumping through the air, her spine prickling.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi