Spanish Conversation · Level 145
30 words
Spanish word
ska
Pronunciation
IPA/esˈka/
Meaning
- masculine nounska
Example
Me gusta el ska.
I like ska.
More examples
En la radio sonaba música ska.
Ska music was playing on the radio.
Core concept
Syncopated, danceable pulse that emphasizes short offbeat accents on guitar, piano, or horns.
Common phrases
música ska
ska music
banda de ska
ska band
Similar words
reggae: Slow-to-mid-tempo Jamaican music defined by deep bass and a mellow, offbeat pulse.
jazz: Music centered on live improvisation, extended solos, and sophisticated chordal interplay.
rock: Energetic guitar-and-drum-based music characterized by a driving backbeat and loud sound.
Definition in Spanish
Género musical jamaicano y bailable, caracterizado por marcar el contratiempo con golpes cortos de guitarra o piano, acompañado de metales y un bajo rítmico.
Word origin
It originates in Jamaica around 1960 by blending mento, American rhythm-and-blues, and jazz, and scholars trace the word to an onomatopoeic imitation of the clipped offbeat.
Usage tips
- To refer to a band or a song, Spanish speakers often add group or song words (grupo de ska, canción de ska) because the bare term usually names the genre.