zapateado, n.

zapateado
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zapateado_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# zapateadonoun

## Earlier version

- zapateado in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zapateado mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zapateado. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How common is the noun zapateado?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1840 | 0.0002
1850 | 0.0003
1860 | 0.0004
1870 | 0.0004
1880 | 0.0003
1890 | 0.0003
1900 | 0.0016
1910 | 0.005
1920 | 0.0063
1930 | 0.0072
1940 | 0.0087
1950 | 0.0096
1960 | 0.011
1970 | 0.01
1980 | 0.0078
1990 | 0.0074
2000 | 0.0074
2010 | 0.0066

### How is the noun zapateado pronounced?

#### British English

/ˌzɑːpətiˈɑːdəʊ/
zah-puh-tee-AH-doh
/zaˌpatiˈɑːdəʊ/
zap-a-tee-AH-doh

#### U.S. English

/ˌzɑpədiˈɑdoʊ/
zah-puh-dee-AH-doh
/ˌsɑpəˌteɪˈɑdoʊ/
sah-puh-tay-AH-doh

### Where does the noun zapateado come from?

Earliest known use

1840s

The earliest known use of the noun zapateado is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for zapateado is from 1845, in the writing of Richard Ford, art connoisseur and author.

zapateado is a borrowing from Spanish.

### Nearby entries

1. zany, n. & adj. 1582–
2. zany, v. 1602–1894
3. zanyish, adj. 1843–
4. zanyism, n. 1823–
5. zanyship, n. 1766–1839
6. Zanzibari, n. & adj. 1882–
7. zap, n. 1968–
8. zap, v. 1942–
9. zap, int. 1929–
10. Zapata, n. 1962–
11. zapateado, n.1845–
12. Zapatism, n. 1911–
13. Zapatismo, n. 1913–
14. Zapatist, n. & adj. 1911–
15. Zapatista, n. & adj. 1911–
16. zapote, n. 1842–
17. Zapotec, n. & adj. 1797–
18. zappe, v. c1600
19. zapped, adj. 1962–
20. zapper, n. 1969–
21. zapping, n. 1972–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Spanish.
Spanish, < zapato shoe…
Spanish, < zapato shoe.

### Notes

OED Supplement (1986) gives the pronunciation as (þapateā·ðo) /θapateˈaðo/ .

## Meaning & use

1. 1. a.
      1845–
      A flamenco dance which involves complex rhythmic syncopated stamping of the heels and toes in imitation of castanets.
      1. 1845

         > The chief dances are the Jota of Arragon..the Zapateado and Seguidilla of La Mancha..and the Zortico of Biscay.

         R. Ford, Hand-book for Travellers in Spain vol. I. ii. 190
      2. 1902

         > Other provincial dances now in existence are the Jaleo de Jerez,..the Zapateado, the Zorongo..and the Tripola Trapola.

         Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XXVII. 374/2
      3. 1952

         > Antonio is in certain details of the Spanish dance the greatest exponent I have seen... Both his Bolero and his Zapateado must be seen to be believed.

         Ballet Annual vol. 6 30
      4. 1958

         > There is a good selection of flamenco dances, including solo and à deux Zapateados.

         Times 23 September 3/4
      5. 1973

         > They danced without music and—like flamenco dancers performing a Zapateado—they used a very wide variety of sounds produced with their heels and toes so that music was superfluous.

         Daily Telegraph 19 November 12/1
      6. 1985

         > Soon the girls are dancing with sensuous frenzy and a young man leaps on a table to execute a fine zapateado.

         Listener 28 February 18/3
      dance
      1. canary 1592–
         In singular and (formerly) plural. A lively dance similar to the jig or gigue; a piece of music intended to accompany this dance. Frequently with the.
      2. zambra 1672–
         A Spanish or Moorish dance.
      3. seguidilla 1763–
         A Spanish dance in ¾ or 3/8 time; also the music for such a dance.
      4. bolero 1787–
         A lively Spanish dance; also the air to which it is danced.
      5. folia 1790–
         A Spanish dance similar to the fandango. Also, music for such a dance.
      6. malagueña 1810–
         a. A Spanish dance resembling the fandango, from the region of Malaga. b. An emotional Spanish Gypsy song, sometimes associated with performance of…
      7. guaracha 1828–
         ‘A lively Spanish dance in 3/8 or 3/4 time, usually accompanied on the guitar by the dancer himself’ (Stainer & Barrett 1876). Also, the music…
      8. polo?1830–
         A style of song in flamenco music; the dance performed to a song in this style.
      9. cachucha 1841–
         A lively Spanish dance.
      10. romalis 1841–
          A traditional Spanish dance; = ole, n.¹
      11. ole 1845–
          A Spanish folk dance which is accompanied by castanets and singing.
      12. zapateado 1845–
          A flamenco dance which involves complex rhythmic syncopated stamping of the heels and toes in imitation of castanets.
      13. jota 1846–
          A Spanish folk dance in ¾ or 3/8 time. Also, the music of this dance.
      14. rondeña 1853–
          A flamenco-style dance or song of southern Spain.
      15. jaleo 1865–
          A lively Andalusian dance, or the clapping that accompanies it.
      16. flamenco 1896–
          A Spanish style of singing or dancing; a song or dance in this style.
      17. tango 1896–
          A Spanish flamenco dance.
      18. bulerias 1918–
          A type of fast-paced flamenco dance; (also) a piece of lively music for this dance, usually played on the guitar and accompanied by singing.
      19. paso doble 1919–
          A fast-paced ballroom dance based on a Latin American style of marching. Also: the music for such a dance, typically in duple time.
      20. farruca 1931–
          A local Spanish dance.
      21. seguiriyas 1967–
          In full, seguiriyas gitana: a regional variety of flamenco music; the song or dance which accompanies this.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. b.
      1959–
      Dancing or footwork of this kind.
      1. 1959

         > José's imprisonment, his rage expressed in zapateado, and the drama of Carmen's death, are adroitly planned.

         Sunday Times 17 May 20/8
      2. 1980

         > Antonio, an electrifying dancer of flamenco and particularly of the language of foot and heel beats called zapateado.

         ‘M. Fonteyn’, Magic of Dance 56
      3. 1981

         > Maya..has a superb grasp of subtle and varied zapateado.

         Daily Telegraph 26 August 9/8
      dance
      1. heel and toe 1805–
         Any dance in which the heel and toes alternately touch the ground. Also more generally (colloquial): the action or activity of dancing.
      2. toe and heel 1840–
         Phrases (chiefly colloquial and slang). toe and heel, (a) A style of dancing in which the toe and heel tap rhythmically on the ground; also attrib…
      3. stomp 1927–
         A heavy stamping step to the beat of such a dance.
      4. zapateado 1959–
         Dancing or footwork of this kind.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˌzɑːpətiˈɑːdəʊ/
zah-puh-tee-AH-doh
/zaˌpatiˈɑːdəʊ/
zap-a-tee-AH-doh

### U.S. English

/ˌzɑpədiˈɑdoʊ/
zah-puh-dee-AH-doh
/ˌsɑpəˌteɪˈɑdoʊ/
sah-puh-tay-AH-doh

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also Zapateado.

## Frequency

zapateado typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zapateado is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zapateado, n., 1840–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1840 | 0.0002
1850 | 0.0003
1860 | 0.0004
1870 | 0.0004
1880 | 0.0003
1890 | 0.0003
1900 | 0.0016
1910 | 0.005
1920 | 0.0063
1930 | 0.0072
1940 | 0.0087
1950 | 0.0096
1960 | 0.011
1970 | 0.01
1980 | 0.0078
1990 | 0.0074
2000 | 0.0074
2010 | 0.0066

zapateado, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zapateado, n. was last modified in December 2024.