bongo

¹

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

noun

, plural bon·gos, (especially collectively) bon·go.

1. a reddish-brown antelope, Taurotragus eurycerus, of the forests of tropical Africa, having white stripes and large, spirally twisted horns.

bongo

²

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

noun

, plural bon·gos, bon·goes.

1. one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers.

bongo

¹

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a rare spiral-horned antelope, Boocercus (or Taurotragus ) eurycerus , inhabiting forests of central Africa. The coat is bright red-brown with narrow cream stripes

Bongo

²

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. BongoOmar19352009MGabonesePOLITICS: head of state Omar . original name Albert Bernard Bongo . 1935–2009, Gabonese statesman; president of Gabon (1967–2009)

bongo

³

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a small bucket-shaped drum, usually one of a pair, played by beating with the fingers

Other Words From

• bongo·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bongo¹

1860–65; probably < a Bantu language; compare Lingala mongu an antelope

Origin of bongo²

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; from Latin American Spanish (Puerto Rico) bongó

Word History and Origins

Origin of bongo¹

of African origin

Origin of bongo²

American Spanish, probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Woburn Safari Park described the eastern mountain bongo calf's birth as hugely important for global conservation.

From BBC

He was equally compelling on acoustic guitar for Jane’s trademark lyrically and musically poignant true tale “Jane Says,” backed by bongos and steel drums.

From Los Angeles Times

More than a decade later, there are no bongos or essential oils at L.A.’s latest wave of death cafes and, most noticeably, their attendees skew younger.

From Los Angeles Times

It has some of the fewer than 100 remaining critically endangered mountain bongos in the world, alongside rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and others.

From Seattle Times

Kenya’s benga and Tanzania’s bongo flava reverberate across dance floors in East Africa, just as fuji and high life do in West Africa.

From Seattle Times