tango

tango — noun

1. a lively dance that originated in South America, performed by two partners movin

1.nounA2
Definition

a lively dance that originated in South America, performed by two partners moving in close connection to music with quick steps, sharp head turns, and long dramatic pauses; or the music composed for this dance style

Example

Min and Élise take tango lessons at a small studio near the old market every Saturday morning.

collocation: tango lessons

The band played a slow tango, and the dancers moved across the floor with perfect control.

collocation: play a tango / dance a tango

Common collocations
  • tango lessons
  • tango music
  • tango dancer
  • tango steps
  • tango shoes
  • tango partner
Synonyms
  • tango music

    emphasises the musical aspect rather than the dance movements

  • tango dance

    emphasises the physical dance rather than the music, often used to distinguish the two senses

Grammar Patterns

dance the tango

play a tango

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun, tango refers to the dance form in general ('she teaches tango'). As a countable noun, it refers to one specific performance or piece of music ('they played three tangos').

Common Mistakes

I want to learn to tango' (when meaning the dance as a noun).
I want to learn the tango' or 'I want to learn tango.
when referring to the dance style itself, use 'the tango' or 'tango' as a noun, not as a verb.
Idioms

it takes two to tango

idiom

used to say that if something bad or difficult has happened, both people involved share the blame or responsibility, or that an activity needs two people working together to succeed

The manager blamed the assistant for the lost deal, but it takes two to tango — both of them failed to check the contract.

A marriage cannot survive if only one person tries to fix it; it takes two to tango.

tango — verb

Word family

  • tango dancer
    noun phraseB1
  • tango music
    noun phraseA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four are partner dances, but they differ greatly in origin, rhythm, and style. Tango (from Argentina/Uruguay) is characterised by sharp, staccato movements, dramatic pauses, and close body contact, with a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature. Waltz (from Austria/Germany) uses a smooth 3/4 time with graceful, flowing turns and an open hold. Salsa (from Cuba/Puerto Rico) is faster and more playful, with a 4/4 rhythm, hip movement, and frequent spins. Rumba (also Cuban) is slower and more romantic, focusing on hip motion and body isolation with a 4/4 beat. Learners often confuse tango with salsa because both have Latin roots, but tango's dramatic stops and head snaps are unique. For example: 'At the ballroom competition, the couple performed an Argentine tango, then switched to a fast salsa, then finished with a slow rumba.'

tango ↗waltz ↗salsa ↗rumba

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • dance the tango
  • play a tango
  • tango band
  • tango instructor

Prepositions

Etymology

Niger-CongoSpanishEnglish

The word 'tango' entered English in the 1890s from Latin American Spanish. The Spanish term itself likely came from a Niger-Congo language of West Africa, possibly the Ibibio word 'tamgu' meaning 'to dance'. African slaves brought their drumming and dance traditions to the Rio de la Plata region (Argentina and Uruguay) in the 19th century, where these mixed with European and Indigenous influences to create the tango. The dance was first practised in the working-class neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo before gaining worldwide popularity in the early 1900s.