A Brazilian friction drum often used in samba music.

It may be made from a gourd or metal and has a single head, normally 6 to 10 inches in diameter, made of animal skin. A thin bamboo stick is attached to the centre of, and perpendicular to, the drum head, stretching into the drum's interior.

The instrument is held under one arm at chest height with the help of a shoulder strap. To play the cuíca, the musician rubs the stick up and down with a wet cloth held in one hand, using the thumb of the other hand to press down on the skin of the drum near the place where the stick is attached. The rubbing motion produces the sound and the pitch is increased or decreased by changing the pressure on the thumb.

The cuíca plays an important rhythmic role in samba music of all kinds. It makes a variety of animal-like noises from frog croaks to dog barks or can be used to add an interesting rhythm. It is particularly notable as a fixture of Rio de Janeiro's Carnival groups, which feature entire sections of cuíca players.