tango

The word “tango” means a passionate ballroom dance in 4/4 time, originally from Argentina, or the music written for it. In plain terms, a dramatic partner dance from Argentina, or to dance it.

“Tango” is pronounced TANG-goh (/ˈtæ̝ŋɡoʊ̯/ in IPA).

Here is “tango” used in a sentence: “They danced a slow, dramatic tango.”

Depending on how it is used, “tango” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “tango” comes from Spanish. Borrowed from Rioplatense Spanish tango, likely originating in a West African language.

“Tango” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Tango” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a passionate ballroom dance in 4/4 time, originally from Argentina, or the music written for it.

The tango is a passionate ballroom dance in 4/4 time originally from Argentina, distinguished by its dramatic, close-hold movements and sharp, staccato steps. Other ballroom dances, such as the waltz, differ in tempo, rhythm, and mood, with the waltz being smoother and in 3/4 time compared to the tango's intensity.

The tango originated in Argentina, and the term refers to both the dance itself and the music written for it. It later spread internationally and became a staple of ballroom dance culture.

Beyond the literal dance, tango is sometimes used figuratively to describe engaging closely or intensely with a person or situation, drawing on the dance's connotation of paired, coordinated action, though the dictionary's core sense of tango is the dance and music themselves.