: a vigorous rhythmic dance style of the Andalusian Gypsies
also: a dance in flamenco style
2
: music or song suitable to accompany a flamenco dance
Did you know?
The Spanish word flamenco means “Flemish,” and its later usage in the sense “Gypsy-like,” especially in reference to a song, dance, and guitar-music style, has inspired a number of hypotheses about why the word flamenco came to be associated with Gypsies; however, all of these theories seem implausible. Perhaps more promisingly, in the later 19th century flamenco also meant “jaunty, cocky” and, in reference to women, “provocatively attractive,” The suggestion has been made that “Gypsylike” is a secondary development from these senses. The ordinary Spanish word for “Gypsy” is gitano, which like the English Gypsy, is altered from a word meaning “Egyptian.”
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebRosalía’s 2022 follow-up, Motomami, leans far more urban and Latin-centered in its rhythms than its predecessor, which was heavy on flamenco. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2022 Mired in lawsuits that prevented them from recording new music, according to El Mundo, Lucía and Pilar became hairdressers, while Lola went on to study flamenco and plans to write a biography of her father. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2022 The dinner was set in the veranda of the home’s elaborate formal gardens, with food prepared by Spanish chef Jesús Sánchez, who holds three Michelin stars, and flamenco dancers, and ended with a performance by the Black Eyed Peas.Town & Country, 29 June 2022 Producer Queco, who incorporated a variety of musical influences — from flamenco to Grease to the opera Carmen — into the song, started writing it as a joke. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2022 Marking their first collaborative effort, the track fuses a mid-tempo ballad with flamenco flairs and classical instrumentation. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 18 June 2022 Even the fiercest of skeptics were suddenly silenced upon hearing Rosalía’s third LP, MOTOMAMI, which showcases her consecration by deviating from pure flamenco into more experimental territory. Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 June 2022 Dancers 4 and older can begin enrolling in theater and in dance classes, including ballet, Dunham, flamenco, hip hop, jazz, African, Latin fusion, modern and tap. Melissa Hernandezstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2022 Enjoy food, live performances and plenty of flamenco dancing on Sunday afternoon. Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 21 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, from flamenco of the Gypsies, literally, Flemish, from Middle Dutch Vlaminc Fleming