Azúcar
The Slang of Classic Salsa: Words That Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades Brought to the World
Community
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
Create accountor
Add a word/Sounds like "toom" (as in "tool") + "BAH" (as in "bar") + "oh" (as in "oh")/
Meaning
A Cuban word describing the way someone walks, moves, and carries themselves with style, rhythm, and personal flair. Originally a musical term (the bass rhythm pattern in Cuban music), it crossed into everyday speech as the equivalent of "swagger." Saying someone "tiene tumbao" is the highest compliment: they move beautifully, dress with their own edge, have something impossible to imitate or buy.
Examples
“That woman walks with real swagger, everyone turns to look when she passes.”
“My uncle has that tumbao, and age has not taken a bit of it away.”
Regional synonyms
Community
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
/Sounds like "toom" (as in "tool") + "BAH" (as in "bar") + "oh" (as in "oh")/
Meaning
A Cuban word describing the way someone walks, moves, and carries themselves with style, rhythm, and personal flair. Originally a musical term (the bass rhythm pattern in Cuban music), it crossed into everyday speech as the equivalent of "swagger." Saying someone "tiene tumbao" is the highest compliment: they move beautifully, dress with their own edge, have something impossible to imitate or buy.
Examples
“That woman walks with real swagger, everyone turns to look when she passes.”
“My uncle has that tumbao, and age has not taken a bit of it away.”
Regional synonyms
Articles featuring this word
Jermu
Woman or girl. "Jermu" is Venezuelan slang created by reversing the syllables of "mujer" (mu-jer becomes jer-mu), a technique similar to Argentine lunfardo. This kind of syllable-flipping slang is especially common among young people in Venezuelan neighborhoods.