1. Jamaican Patois
- Most often, it's believed to be derived from the Jamaican Patois term "reggae-reggae", which means "ragged clothing" or "rough".
2. Spanish Dance
- Another theory is that it could be based on the Spanish dance "La Reggada".
3. African Terms
- Reggae could also have roots in African words such as "regga" (meaning "king"), in Sierra Leone, or "Regue", in Congo, a rhythm used for dance and celebration.