Macarena

See also: macarena

English

Alternative forms

• macarena

Etymology

From the Spanish female given name Macarena, which is the title of a well-known song from 1993 by Spanish duo Los del Río.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌmækəˈɹeɪnə/, enPR: măʹkərī'nə

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌmɑkəˈɹeɪnə/, enPR: mäʹkərā'nə
• Hyphenation: Ma‧ca‧re‧na, Ma‧ca‧rena

Noun

Macarena (plural Macarenas)

1. (often preceded by definite article) A particular line dance with a set of simple arm movements and exaggerated hip motion performed to a fast Latin rhythm.
   • 2000 January 15, Peter Sagal, “Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!”, in National Public Radio:

     Oh yeah, they were doing the Macarena up and down Saint Peter’s back in twelve ninety-two.

References

• “Macarena”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
• “Macarena”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

• Camarena

Spanish

Etymology

It is disputed whether it comes from Ancient Greek μακάριος (makários, “blessed, happy”), or from the homonymous neighborhood in Seville, from Arabic [Term?].

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /makaˈɾena/ [ma.kaˈɾe.na]
• Rhymes: -ena
• Syllabification: Ma‧ca‧re‧na

Proper noun

Macarena f

1. a female given name from Ancient Greek or Arabic