Compas

Compas is a term with several related meanings across languages and cultures. In many languages, including French and some Spanish-speaking contexts, compas is the word for the compass, a drawing or direction-finding instrument. A compass traditionally consists of two legs joined at a hinge, one bearing a sharp point and the other a pencil or ink holder; magnetic and gyroscopic variants are used to determine direction or to draw circles and arcs in drafting and navigation.

In music, compás (often written with an accent in Spanish) denotes a rhythmic unit or beat pattern. In Flamenco, the compás is the cyclical framework that governs timing and phrasing for a given palo (style), with specific patterns and accents that performers must observe. The concept of compás thus underpins tempo, stress, and the progression of phrases within a piece.

In Haitian popular music, compas, also spelled konpa or kompa, refers to a dance-oriented genre that emerged in the 1950s. Developed by Nemours Jean-Baptiste, compas blends Caribbean rhythms with modern instrumentation and a steady 4/4 groove. It became a staple of Haitian nightlife and influenced associated scenes and artists worldwide; bands such as Tabou Combo helped popularize the style in subsequent decades. Today, the genre is frequently called kompa, though compas remains a common anglicized spelling in some contexts.

Other linguistic uses include the Spanish compás meaning rhythm or meter, and the related Portuguese compasso meaning a measure in music or a step-by-step pace. The precise meaning of compas depends on context, ranging from a physical instrument to abstract measures of rhythm.