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If you’re a fan of reggaeton, it’s practically impossible not to know what «perreo» is. It’s the soul of every hit and a repeated battle cry among our favorite reggaeton artists like Bad Bunny, Karol G, Feid, Maluma, Ozuna, or even Daddy Yankee himself.
And now, fans of urban music are in luck because the term has been recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy, the highest institution for the Spanish language. But what does it really mean, and why is it called that?
What Does ‘Perreo’ Mean?
You can now find the meaning of the verb «perrear» in the dictionary, which the RAE defines as follows:
«Perreo: a dance generally performed to the rhythm of reggaeton, with erotic hip movements, and in which, when danced in pairs, the man usually positions himself behind the woman with their bodies very close.»
The truth is that we don’t quite agree with the definition because «perreo» itself is not so much about genres (as Bad Bunny would say, «Yo perreo sola!«), and anyone can dance it in any position. Still, it is indeed defined as a sensual, close, repetitive, and sensual (or sexual, depending on the moment, as it can become very explosive) dance.
The Origin of ‘Perreo‘
The origin of the term will not leave you indifferent because it is a word that started being used in Puerto Rico (the birthplace par excellence of reggaeton, where it was practically created). It began to be called «perrear» to the dance, supposedly «imitating» the movements of coitus in the «doggy style» position, also alluding generally to mating between animals. This way of referring to this style became popular in the 90s when the genre began to spread. It makes sense because, as you probably know, «perreo» and «perrear» come from «perro,» which means dog in Spanish.
Of course, there are variations of the verb «perrear» in different Spanish-speaking countries. For example, in some places, it is called «sandungueo,» and even in Cuba, it is called «culipandeo.» In English, we commonly use the term «grinding» for these repetitive pelvic movements, and even «twerking,» but they do not have the same connotation. «Perreo» is «perreo»!
The emergence of this dance style, as we mentioned, originated in Puerto Rico, but it is an essential part of Caribbean music, which has a lot of influence from Jamaican dancehall from the late 70s and 80s. During this time, dancers created choreographies around pelvic movements that imitated the sexual act. Therefore, «perreo» is actually a variation of the same that has adapted to various countries such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela, among others.
And you, are you a frequent «perreo» dancer?
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