oompah

noun

oom·​pah ˈüm-(ˌ)pä How to pronounce oompah (audio)
ˈu̇m-
variants or less commonly oompah-pah
ˌüm-(ˌ)pä-ˈpä How to pronounce oompah (audio)
ˌu̇m-
: a repeated rhythmic bass accompaniment especially in a band
also : music featuring such accompaniment
oompah verb

Examples of oompah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Revelers can dance to oompah music, enter a dirndl and lederhosen contest, twirl to the polka, choose from more than 50 kinds of beer, or eat bratwurst, apple strudel, fondue, and German tacos. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2024 Expect non-stop oompah music, 50 kinds of beer, a fun run, and more. — Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oompah was in 1877

Browse Nearby Words

oompah
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Cite this Entry

“Oompah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oompah. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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