noun
mariachi
mahr-ee-AH-chee
noun
1
A traditional style of Mexican folk music played by a small ensemble, often featuring trumpets, violins, and guitars.
"Mariachi filled the plaza as the festival began."
2
A band that performs this music, or a musician in such a band.
"A mariachi serenaded diners at every table."
How to Use Mariachi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMexican folk music and the bands that play it, often heard at celebrations and weddings.
Common pairings
mariachi band
mariachi music
Word Forms
mariachis plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “mariachi”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ filled the plaza as the festival began.
Etymology
Borrowed from Mexican Spanish mariachi; the word's exact origin is disputed, with an old (and now doubted) theory tracing it to French mariage ("marriage").