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Where does the word "rumba" come from? It comes from Spanish rumbo, passing through Cuban Spanish before entering English (1930s).
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Where does the word "rumba" come from? It comes from Spanish rumbo, passing through Cuban Spanish before entering English (1930s).
Rumba’s story begins in Spanish: rumbo meant “a spree, celebration.” Meaning "course" or "direction", also used for a spree or party. By 1800s-1900s, the word had taken hold in Cuban Spanish as rumba. Developed into a genre of Afro-Cuban music and dance. It reached English by 1930s as rumba. Afro-Cuban rumba developed in Havana and Matanzas; UNESCO listed it in 2016. Today, rumba means a Cuban dance and music style characterized by rhythmic hip movements.
- Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval rumbo "a spree, celebration", meaning "course" or "direction", also used for a spree or party.
- Stage 2 · Cuban Spanish · 1800s-1900s rumba "an Afro-Cuban music and dance style", developed into a genre of Afro-Cuban music and dance.
- Stage 3 · English · 1930s rumba "a Cuban ballroom dance and music style", Afro-Cuban rumba developed in Havana and Matanzas; UNESCO listed it in 2016.