Rumba
/ˈrʌm.bə/noun
A Cuban dance and music style with Afro-Cuban roots, or a related ballroom dance form.
Did you know?The word entered English through Spanish in the 20th century, but the dance itself grew from Afro-Cuban musical traditions shaped by African, Spanish, and Caribbean cultural exchange.
Etymological Timeline
19th–20th Century
Spanish
rumba
“A lively dance, party, or social gathering in Cuba and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.”
20th Century
English
rumba
“A Cuban-style dance and its associated music, later adapted into ballroom form.”
20th Century
French
rumba
“A borrowed term for the Cuban dance and music style.”
20th Century
African Caribbean
rumba
“An Afro-Cuban dance and musical tradition developed in colonial Cuba.”