Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rumba” come from?

Rumba comes from Spanish rumba, derived from Spanish rumbo, which comes from Latin rhombus, from Ancient Greek ῥόμβος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer-.

rumba (English): A slow-paced Cuban partner dance in 4:4 time; to...

Definitions

  1. A slow-paced Cuban partner dance in 4:4 time; to...

Ancestry of “rumba”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishrumbaparty; rumba
2Spanishrumbocourse; heading, bearing
3Latinrhombusrhombus; flatfish; sturgeon
4Ancient Greekῥόμβοςbullroarer, an instrument whirled on the end of a...
5Ancient GreekῥέμβωI turn in circles; I roam, rove about
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwrembh-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerbh-to turn, twist, bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “rumba”

  • rumbalike
  • rumba
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →