rhumba
UK[ˈrʌmbə]US[ˈrʌmbə]
n
a ballroom dance of cuban origin, or a similar dance performed to latin american music.
n
the music for the rhumba.
Etymology
the word 'rhumba' entered english in the early 20th century from american spanish, specifically the cuban spanish term 'rumba'. the spanish term likely derives from a west african source, possibly related to the kikongo word 'nkumba', meaning 'belly button', which may refer to a style of dance. the term was adopted into english to denote the specific cuban dance and its associated music, later becoming a standardized ballroom dance style. its journey reflects the cultural transmission of music and dance from african traditions through the caribbean to global ballroom practice.
Analysis
the word 'rhumba' is a direct loanword from cuban spanish, representing a specific cultural concept. it is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful english morphemes.
Examples
they danced a lively rhumba at the wedding reception.
the band switched from a salsa to a classic rhumba.
learning the basic steps of the rhumba is the first lesson in many ballroom dance classes.