rap
/ˈrap/masculine
rap is the Spanish word for rap music.
The word rap refers to the music genre. While rap can stand alone, the phrase música rap is also commonly used to specify the genre, which mirrors the English structure.
Meaning: music form (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
rap is a masculine noun. When referring to the genre as a concept, it is almost always used with the definite article el (el rap).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrap/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because the word música is feminine, English speakers might mistakenly treat the genre as a feminine noun. However, the genre itself is masculine (el rap).
Did you know?
- While 'rap' is a global term, Spanish-speaking musicians in certain regions might use the word 'chanteo' to describe the specific act of rapping or the rhythmic delivery of lyrics.
- In many Latin American countries, particularly in the Caribbean, the term 'rap' is often colloquially replaced by the term 'urbano' to describe the entire movement of street-oriented music.
- Because Spanish allows for the creation of new verbs from nouns, you will sometimes see the slang verb rapear used to describe the act of rapping.
Examples in context
- Lo único que necesitas saber para darte cuenta de que la mayoría de las personas son idiotas, es que la música rap es la música más popular del mundo.The only thing that you need to know in order to realize that most people are idiots, is that rap music is the most popular music in the world.This sentence illustrates how the phrase música rap is used to identify the genre.Tatoeba #9549276 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9549285 by rafaeldejesus8199
- La música de rap es un género que ha ganado mucha popularidad en los últimos años.Rap music is a genre that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years.
- El género de rap abarca diferentes estilos y subculturas.The genre of rap encompasses different styles and subcultures.
- Hoy escuché un rap que me encantó.Today, I listened to a rap song that I loved.
- Escucho mucho el rap cuando estudio.I listen to a lot of rap when I study.
- A mi hermano le encanta el rap.My brother loves rap.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are at a music store.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta el rap?Do you like rap?
- SofíaSí, me gusta mucho ese estilo.Yes, I like that style a lot.
- AlejandroYo también prefiero el rap antes que el pop.I also prefer rap over pop.
- SofíaEs un género con mucha energía.It is a genre with a lot of energy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rap music” translations and entries rap, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
