jarabe tapatío

[ Spanish hah-rah-ve tah-pah-tee-aw ]

noun

1. a dance of Mexican origin, performed by a couple and consisting of nine figures and melodies, in which the partners often dance facing each other but not touching.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jarabe tapatío¹

< Mexican Spanish; Spanish jarabe literally, sweetened drink, syrup; tapatío pertaining to Guadalajara (allegedly a word used in this region of Mexico for a serving of three tortillas, originally a unit of cacao bean currency < Nahuatl tlapatiotl price, value)