Jacquelina’s “Dances of Spain” Flamenco Vocabulary
How to speak "Flamenco"
Dance
Hands:
Floreo (Flo-RAY-oh): flowering hand movements
A Fuera (Ah-FWEY-rah): outward hand movement
A Dentro (Ah-THEN-troh): inward hand movement
Palmas (PAHL-muss): rhythmic hand-clapping
Sordas (SOR-thas): muted (literally: "deaf") referring to softer hand clapping
Claras (CLA-rass): bright and clear, referring to loud hand clapping
Fuerte (FWARE-te): strong hard
Pitos (PEE-tohss) : finger snapping
Palmeros/as (Pahl-MARE-os/as): men/woman that clap while musicians play
Arms:
Braceo (Brah-SAY-oh): arm movements
Brazos (BRAH-sohss): arms
Footwork:
Chufla (CHOOflah): one foot golpe’s and the other foot simultaneously slides along the floor
Escobilla or escovilla (Es-coh-BEE-yah): long footwork section
Golpe (GOAL-pay): stamp with the entire foot
Planta (PLAN-tah): ball of the foot
Punta (POON-tah): toe
Tacón
(Tah-CONE): heel
Taconeo (Tah-cone-AY-oh): footwork in general
Marcaje (Mar-CAH-hey) Marcar (Mar-CARH): keep time/marking time
Zapateado (ZAH-pah-te-ah-doh): footwork, also the name of a rhythmic dance featuring footwork
Zapatos (Zah-PAH-toh): shoes
Whole body:
Marcando (Mar-CAHN-doh): movements of the dancer during the letra
Careo (Cah-REH-oh): meeting face to face at the end of the fourth copla of
Sevillanas
Pas de Bourree (Pah-de-bor-eh): Grapevine
Pasada (Pah-SAH-dah): To pass
Paseo (Pah-SAY-oh): promenade step resembling walking
Rond de Jambe (Rohn-de-john): circular or round movement of the leg
Vuelta (VWELL-tah): turn Por Delante (front turn) Por Detras (Back turn)

Parts of a dance:
Letra (LET-rah): lyrics/verse of a song
Copla (KOH-plah): set pattern of a song/verse
Llamada (Yah-MAH-dah): call to begin or end a dance section Llamar (to call)
Remate (Ray-MAH-tay): punctuation of the singing with footwork
Redoble (Ray-DOH-bleh): to double up a step or combination
Salida (Sah-LEE-dah): entrance of a song or dance, also known as Entrada
Cierre (See-YEH-reh): act of ending or closing a phrase
Desplante (Des-PLAHN-te): to display, type of Llamada signifies a change in choreographic sequences and is usually 2 compasses' or more.
Cambio (CAHM-bee-oh): to change footwork or braceo, or change in music pattern
Bailaor/a (Buy-la-OR/ORA): Male/female dancer
VOICE
Cante (KAHN-tay): singing Chico (light song) Jondo (deep/solemn song)
Salida (Sah-LEE-dah) or Temple (TEM-play): singer's opening or warm-up
Letra (LET-rah) or Copla (KOH-plah): verse
Estribillo (Es-tree-BEE-yo): repeated words, or chorus
Cantaor/a (Khan-tah-OR/ORA): male/female singer
GUITAR
Falseta (Fal-SET-ah): melodic themes and variations on the guitar
Rasgueado (Ras-gay-AH-do) or Rasgueo (Ras-GAY-oh): strong, rhythmic guitar strumming which is the trademark of flamenco guitar
Cejilla Say-HEE-yah): capo on a guitar
Tocaor (TOH-kah-your/yourah: male/female flamenco guitarist
Toque (TOH-kay): guitar playing Toque Libre (playing free form)
PERCUSSION
Cajón (Ca-HONE): the most popular percussion device in modern flamenco, literally means 'box', referring to shipping crates once used by Peruvian dock workers as instruments
Castañuelas
(Cas-tah-nyew-EL-ass) or Palillos (Pa-LEE-yohss): castanets, hand-held percussion used by dancers for the forms Sevillanas and Fandangos, and one of the most identifiable sounds in flamenco, not used in pure flamenco.

GENERAL VOCABULARY
Aficionado/a (Oh-FISH-ee-oh-nah-doh/dah): connoisseur or fan educated in flamenco palos
Palos (PAH-lohss): various flamenco forms
Compás (Comb-POSS): meter, cycle or time signature of all flamenco palos
Contra tiempo (CONE-trah Tee-EMpoh): counter time/rhythm, the “up” beat
Sincopado (Seen-koh-PAH-doh): syncopated rhythm
Duende (DWEN-day): the "spirit" that possesses the soul and inspires a flamenco artist
Pellizco (Pel-LEEZ-coh): means pinch or nip, small spontaneous gestures. Can also mean spicy, flirtatious and playful.
Jaleo (Ha-LAY-oh): shouts of encouragement made by band-members or members of the audience: e.g., "OLE!"
Calo (KAH-loh): language of the Spanish Gypsies
Cuadro Flamenco (KWAH-droh): unit of Flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists
Juerga (HWARE-gah): flamenco jam session or private party
Tablao (tab-LAU): stage or cafe where Flamenco is performed (caberet)
Cafe Cantante (Calf-E Kahn-TAHN-te): coffee house with Flamenco shows during the “Golden Age” of the 1800s
Manton (Mahn-TONE): embroidered silk shawl with long fringes Mantoncillo or
Tres Picos (small shawls with 3 points)
Payo (PIE-oh): non-gypsy
Cantes de ida y vuelta: Flamenco songs that share their origin in Latin America mainly in Cuba
Soniquete: One with the music