cuatro
UK[ˈkwætrəʊ]US[ˈkwɑːtroʊ]
n
The number four in Spanish or in contexts relating to Spanish-speaking cultures.
n
(in music) A group of four musicians, especially in Latin American music; a quartet.
Etymology
The English word 'cuatro' is a direct borrowing from Spanish, where it simply means "four." Its lineage traces back to Latin 'quattuor,' also meaning four. This Latin term is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root kʷetwóres, which is the common ancestor for the word "four" in many Indo-European languages, including English. The borrowing into English retains the original Spanish spelling and pronunciation, used specifically to evoke Spanish or Latin American cultural contexts, such as in music or when referring to the number within a Spanish framework.
Analysis
The word is a direct loanword from Spanish. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The band featured a talented cuatro playing rhythmic chords.
She learned to count to ten in Spanish: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco...
The composition was written for a traditional Venezuelan cuatro.