tabla

noun

ta·​bla ˈtä-blə How to pronounce tabla (audio)
: a pair of small different-sized hand drums used especially in music of India

Illustration of tabla

Illustration of tabla

Examples of tabla 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.
On June 12, master musicians explore the intricate rhythms of Indian tabla, the thunderous power of Japanese taiko, and the dynamic energy of an all-women Brazilian percussion ensemble. Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026 Also appearing on the album are American composer Elliot Cole on synthesizer, French composer Benoit Rolland on electro-acoustics and Bangladeshi tabla virtuoso Mir Naqibul Islam. Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 Think of it as the vocal equivalent of tabla drums, but created entirely with the human voice. Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026 That seems to be truer than ever on upcoming album The Mountain, which Albarn recorded in India, and whose second single not only features traditional Indian instruments like the tablas and the sarod, but also guest vocals from Argentinian rapper Trueno. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tabla

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu tablā, from Arabic ṭabla

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tabla was in 1865

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tabla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabla. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tabla

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster