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mbira

mbi·ra
M m

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uh m-beer-uh]
    • /əmˈbɪər ə/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uh m-beer-uh]
    • /əmˈbɪər ə/

Definitions of mbira word

  • noun mbira a musical instrument of Africa usually made out of a gourd that serves as a resonating box, to which vibrating metal or wooden strips are attached for plucking. 1
  • noun mbira (musical instruments, in southern Africa) Any of several musical instruments, similar to a marimba, having a small sound box fitted with a row of tuned tabs that are plucked with the thumbs. 1
  • noun mbira an African musical instrument consisting of tuned metal strips attached to a resonating box, which are plucked with the thumbs 0
  • noun mbira a hand-held African musical instrument consisting of a series of metal or wooden strips mounted on a soundboard and, often, having a resonator formed from a gourd: it is played by plucking the strips with the thumbs and forefingers 0
  • noun mbira (music) A thumb piano, a musical instrument having a small sound box fitted with a row of tuned tabs that are plucked with the thumbs, originating among the Shona of southern Africa; any type of plucked lamellophone of the same type as the Shona instrument. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of mbira

First appearance:

before 1905
One of the 15% newest English words
Borrowed into English from Shona around 1905-10

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Mbira

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

mbira popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

mbira usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Top questions with mbira

  • how to make a mbira?
  • how to make an mbira?
  • what is a mbira?
  • how to make mbira?
  • what is mbira?
  • how to play mbira?
  • how to play the mbira?
  • what is an mbira?
  • where is the mbira from?

See also

Matching words

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