Samba
/ˈsæm.bə/noun
A lively Brazilian dance and music style with African roots, especially associated with Carnival.
Did you know?The word samba is generally traced to African languages brought to Brazil through the Atlantic slave trade, and its exact source is debated, which is a reminder that some of the loudest cultural words were carried across history in silence.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Portuguese
samba
“A dance or musical form in Brazil associated with Black Afro-Brazilian culture.”
19th Century
Brazilian Portuguese
samba
“A local dance and song tradition, especially in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.”
African source (uncertain)
Bantu
samba
“Likely a word from one or more Bantu languages, with proposed senses including a dance, a prayer, or a type of ritual performance.”
Modern English
English
samba
“The Brazilian dance and music style known worldwide today.”