merengue

IPA/məˈreŋɡeɪ/
KK[mɚˈeŋ]IPA/məˈreŋɡeɪ/

merengue — noun

1. a fast-paced dance and music tradition from the Caribbean, especially Haiti and

1.nounB1
Definition

a fast-paced dance and music tradition from the Caribbean, especially Haiti and the Dominican Republic, characterized by a sliding step and a cheerful, steady rhythm

Example

At the wedding reception, Pim showed us the basic merengue step.

collocation: basic merengue step

Tamar put on a merengue CD, and soon everyone was dancing.

collocation: put on a merengue CD

Common collocations
  • dance the merengue
  • merengue music
  • merengue beat
  • merengue rhythm
  • merengue band
  • learn the merengue

Usage Note

Merengue is usually uncountable when referring to the dance style in general ("I love merengue"), but it can be countable when referring to a specific piece of music or a particular dance performance ("He played three merengues in a row").

Common Mistakes

We baked a merengue for dessert.
We baked a meringue for dessert.
Merengue is a dance and music style; meringue is a sweet dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • merengue music
  • merengue beat
  • merengue rhythm
  • merengue band
  • merengue step
  • merengue routine

Phrases

  • dance the merengue
  • learn the merengue
  • play merengue

Etymology

FrenchSpanishEnglish

The word merengue comes from Spanish merengue, which may be related to French meringue, the light whipped dessert — possibly because the dance's lively, airy character reminded people of the dessert's light texture. The dance style developed in the Dominican Republic and Haiti during the 19th century and spread across the Caribbean and beyond.