flamenco
pronunciation
How to pronounce flamenco in British English:
UK [fləˈmeŋkəʊ]
How to pronounce flamenco in American English:
US [fləˈmeŋkoʊ]
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- Noun:
- guitar music composed for dancing the flamenco
- a style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian gypsies; vigorous and rhythmic with clapping and stamping of feet
Word Origin
- flamenco (n.)
- 1882, from Spanish flamenco, first used of Gypsy dancing in Andalusia. The word in Spanish meant "a Fleming, native of Flanders" (Dutch Vlaming) and also "flamingo." Speculation are varied and colorful about the connection between the bird, the people, and the gypsy dance of Andalusia. Spain ruled Flanders for many years in 16c., and King Carlos I brought with him to Madrid an entire Flemish court. One etymology suggests the dance was so called from the bright costumes and energetic movements, which the Spanish associated with Flanders; another is that Spaniards, especially Andalusians, like to name things by their opposites, and because the Flemish were tall and blond and the gypsies short and dark, the gypsies were called "Flemish;" others hold that flamenco was the general Spanish word for all foreigners, gypsies included; or that Flemish noblemen, bored with court life, took to slumming among the gypsies. Compare Gypsy.
Example
- 1. Roxy freeman and her brother rollin practising flamenco in 1990 .
- 2. In flamenco we don 't have many people who write about our history , as it started in the street , or in small houses .
- 3. On other occasions , I told people my mother was a flamenco dancer , or that I was related to goldie hawn .
- 4. This meant I could have regular lessons and I became a professional flamenco dancer .
- 5. Think of flamenco and you conjure up guitars and passion .