Since samba originated under the influence of a number of musical styles and rhythms, it is natural to assume there is a variety of samba types. And in fact, there are different styles of samba that all have their specific meaning.

Here is a short list of sambas:

• Samba enredo – samba created for a samba schools’ participating in the Carnaval. Usually it is built around some social or cultural issue that is presented in the choreography and decoration of the desfile.
• Samba do partido alto – the style of grandes mestres do samba. Sambas of this type describe life on the hills of Rio and other underprivileged regions.
• Samba canção – a slow and romantic samba.
• Samba exaltação – patriotic sambas praising Brazil and its beauty.
• Sambalanço – samba with elements of jazz.
• Samba de breque – samba with sharp pauses for a singer to interject something fun or…