Meaning & use

duende

noun·Advanced

A quality of passion, mystery, and heightened emotional power, especially in Spanish art, music, or dance.

See it in a sentence

The flamenco dancer's performance had such duende that the audience fell completely silent.

Critics said the guitarist played with real duende, as if the music moved through him.

A note on using this word

In Spanish folklore, 'duende' (plural 'duendes') also names a mischievous goblin or elf; English borrowed the artistic sense from flamenco culture.

Words with a similar meaning

soulpassion

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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