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.
Think of it as the vocal equivalent of tabla drums, but created entirely with the human voice. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026 The day will start with a drum circle and finish with a performance by Third Coast Percussion, who will be joined by tabla player Salar Nader. — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025 The family’s running inventory included five guitars, three ouds, four tabla drums, and three violins – some pieced together from shards, others donated. — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Nov. 2025 This year’s Indian Jazz Journey lineup extends beyond the subcontinent with Afghan-American tabla expert Eman Hashimi, who also hails from a long line of masters. — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 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

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tabla
Tablas
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Cite this Entry

“Tabla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabla. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tabla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tabla

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