bachata

[ bah-chah-tah ]

noun

1. a contemporary genre of Latin American popular music, in the style of a ballad, featuring guitars, percussion, and singing:

   On Thursdays, they have a band that plays nothing but bachata.

2. a song performed in the musical style of bachata:

   The lyrics to this bachata are from a traditional hymn.

3. a partnered dance of Dominican origin, performed to the music of bachata, traditionally danced in eight-count box steps with a sequence of three steps and a tap, with modern variations that include steps from other Latin ballroom dances:

   Part of the ballroom competition is a six-minute bachata.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bachata¹

First recorded in 1955–60; from Caribbean Spanish; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Juan Luis Guerra’s “Mambo 23” was awarded record of the year, and his album “Radio Güira” was awarded album of the year and best merengue/bachata album — making him a 27-time Latin Grammy winner.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, she stepped out of her comfort zone to record a bachata track — “En Esta Boca” — with Kany García, one of her idols.

From Los Angeles Times

The LP continues Shakira’s career-long penchant for pulling together music and collaborators from across the Americas, dipping into rock, electro-pop, trap, Dominican bachata, Nigerian-style Afrobeats and regional Mexican cumbia and polka.

From New York Times

The artist doesn’t explain who she is, she just shows it in her work — whether it’s releasing an infectious, electronic-tinged bachata track in the same breath as a deeply felt ballad about her late grandfather, or rapping in both English and Spanish on a hip-hop beat.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s very hard for me to be like, “Hey, I’m just going to make bachata.”

From Los Angeles Times