bongo
To play the bongo drums or to strike a surface rhythmically and repeatedly with the fingers or palms. In academic or technical contexts, it often refers to the specific percussive action used in ethnomusicology or the observation of rhythmic motor patterns in behavioral studies.
Examples
3 of 5He would bongo on the kitchen table whenever he got excited about a new idea.
He would tap a rhythmic beat on the table whenever he felt enthusiastic about a new concept.
The percussionist was instructed to bongo softly during the lecture to demonstrate the subtle shifts in Afro-Cuban meter.
The drummer was asked to play the bongos quietly during the talk to show changes in rhythm.
Stop bongo-ing on your desk; the constant tapping is making it hard for me to concentrate!
Please stop drumming your fingers on the desk because the noise is distracting me.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'B' in 'Bongo' and 'Beat'—you use your hands to 'Bongo' out a 'Beat'.
Quick Quiz
The student began to ___ rhythmically on his notebook while waiting for the professor to arrive.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
He would bongo on the kitchen table whenever he got excited about a new idea.
everydayHe would tap a rhythmic beat on the table whenever he felt enthusiastic about a new concept.
The percussionist was instructed to bongo softly during the lecture to demonstrate the subtle shifts in Afro-Cuban meter.
formalThe drummer was asked to play the bongos quietly during the talk to show changes in rhythm.
Stop bongo-ing on your desk; the constant tapping is making it hard for me to concentrate!
informalPlease stop drumming your fingers on the desk because the noise is distracting me.
The study analyzed how infants bongo on various textures to explore acoustic properties and tactile feedback.
academicThe research examined how babies drum on different materials to learn about sound and touch.
During the high-stakes meeting, the CEO started to bongo rhythmically on her folder while she considered the proposal.
businessWhile thinking about the plan during the important meeting, the executive tapped her folder in a steady rhythm.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
bongo out a beat
to produce a specific rhythmic pattern by drumming
bongo away
to continue drumming or tapping for an extended period
bongo it up
to increase the energy or frequency of the drumming
Often Confused With
Bungle means to perform a task clumsily or unsuccessfully, whereas bongo refers to rhythmic drumming.
Bingo is a game of chance or an exclamation of success, unrelated to rhythmic action.
Usage Notes
The verb 'bongo' is most frequently used in descriptive writing to characterize a specific type of rhythmic hand-tapping. In academic musicology, it is a technical term for playing the instrument, while in general usage, it often implies an informal or absentminded drumming action.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'play bongo' as a phrase; while correct, using 'bongo' as a verb is more concise when describing the action itself. Note that 'bongos' is the noun for the instrument, but the verb remains 'bongo' in the infinitive.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'B' in 'Bongo' and 'Beat'—you use your hands to 'Bongo' out a 'Beat'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Spanish 'bongó', which has its roots in African (Bantu) languages, specifically referring to the small, twin hand-drums.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The action of bongo-ing is central to Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions, where the bongo player provides a syncopated lead rhythm.
Quick Quiz
The student began to ___ rhythmically on his notebook while waiting for the professor to arrive.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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