noun Uncommon

Mendoza

mehn-DOH-zuh

Mendoza (noun) means Another name for the "ugly stick," a homemade percussion instrument built from junk objects like bottle caps and springs. Example: “At the party someone pulled out a mendoza and started banging out a rhythm.”

noun

Another name for the "ugly stick," a homemade percussion instrument built from junk objects like bottle caps and springs.

"At the party someone pulled out a mendoza and started banging out a rhythm."

How to use Mendoza

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA folk percussion instrument assembled from odds and ends, most often heard of in Caribbean and Latin American music traditions.

Common mistake

Not to be confused with Mendoza the Argentine province or the common Spanish surname of the same spelling.

Word forms

mendozas plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Mendoza” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

At the party someone pulled out a _____ and started banging out a rhythm.

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish Mendoza, from Basque Mendoza.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for Mendoza

Spinoza

See all rhymes for Mendoza →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Mendoza” mean?

The word “Mendoza” means another name for the "ugly stick," a homemade percussion instrument built from junk objects like bottle caps and springs. In plain terms, a folk percussion instrument assembled from odds and ends, most often heard of in Caribbean and Latin American music traditions.

How do you pronounce “Mendoza”?

“Mendoza” is pronounced mehn-DOH-zuh (/mɛnˈdoʊzə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Mendoza” in a sentence?

Here is “Mendoza” used in a sentence: “At the party someone pulled out a mendoza and started banging out a rhythm.”

What part of speech is “Mendoza”?

“Mendoza” is a noun.

Is “Mendoza” a common word?

“Mendoza” is an uncommon word in modern English.