macarena
UK[ˌmæk.əˈreɪ.nə]US[ˌmɑː.kəˈreɪ.nə]
n
A Latin American dance with a specific sequence of steps and movements, performed to a song of the same name.
n
The song to which the dance is performed.
Etymology
The word 'Macarena' entered global popular culture not through linguistic decomposition but as a cultural loan. It is the title of a 1993 song by the Spanish duo Los del Río, which references the Macarena district of Seville and its famous basilica. The song's immense international popularity led to the creation of a simple, catchy dance, causing the name to transform from a proper noun into a common noun denoting that specific dance and its music. Thus, the etymology is one of cultural export, where a place name associated with religious devotion was repurposed through music into a worldwide dance craze.
Analysis
This is a proper noun adopted as a common noun. It originates from the Spanish name 'Macarena', a title of the Virgin Mary (Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena), venerated in Seville, Spain.
Examples
At the wedding, everyone joined in to dance the Macarena.
The DJ played the Macarena, and the whole party immediately recognized the tune.
Learning the steps to the Macarena is quite easy and fun.