noun

kumbaya

koom-beye-YAH

Kumbaya (noun) means Invoked, often sarcastically, to describe a moment of forced or naive group togetherness and harmony. Example: “The team-building retreat turned into an eye-rolling kumbaya session by the second hour.”

noun

Invoked, often sarcastically, to describe a moment of forced or naive group togetherness and harmony.

"The team-building retreat turned into an eye-rolling kumbaya session by the second hour."

"Nobody wanted a kumbaya moment — they wanted a real decision made."

How to use kumbaya

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed today mostly with an edge of sarcasm, for feel-good bonding that feels shallow or unearned.

Common mistake

Almost always used ironically in modern speech ("a kumbaya moment"), rarely to describe the earnest original song.

Common pairings

kumbaya moment kumbaya session

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The team-building retreat turned into an eye-rolling _____ session by the second hour.

Etymology

From the Gullah spiritual "Kumbaya," itself believed to be a rendering of the English phrase "come by here."

Rhymes for kumbaya

ya WYA MYA aya saya Maya kuya raya heya hiya kaya Jaya

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Frequently asked questions

What does “kumbaya” mean?

The word “kumbaya” means invoked, often sarcastically, to describe a moment of forced or naive group togetherness and harmony. In plain terms, used today mostly with an edge of sarcasm, for feel-good bonding that feels shallow or unearned.

How do you pronounce “kumbaya”?

“Kumbaya” is pronounced koom-beye-YAH (/ˌkum.baɪˈjɑ/ in IPA).

How do you use “kumbaya” in a sentence?

Here is “kumbaya” used in a sentence: “The team-building retreat turned into an eye-rolling kumbaya session by the second hour.”

What part of speech is “kumbaya”?

“Kumbaya” is a noun.