Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Glossary
Agreste
In the Northeast, the intermediate zone
between the coast and the
sertão
Aldeia
Originally a mission where indigenous peoples
were converted, now any isolated hamlet
Alfândega
Customs
Artesanato
Craft goods
Azulejo
Decorative glazed tiling
Baile funk
Afro-Brazilian hip-hop rhythms
Bairro
Neighbourhood within town or city
Bandeirante
Member of a group that marched under
a
bandeira
(banner or flag) in early missions to open
up the interior; Brazilian conquistador
Barraca
Beach hut; in resorts it usually means a bar or
restaurant on the beach
Batucada
Literally, a drumming session - music-
making in general, especially impromptu
Bolsa
Ferry
Bosque
Wood
Bossa nova
Literally “new trend”; a jazz form that
evolved from samba
Caatinga
Scrub vegetation of the interior of the
Northeast
Caboclo
A person of mixed indigenous Brazilian and
European heritage
Candomblé
African-Brazilian religion
Cangaceiro
Outlaws from the interior of the Northeast
who flourished in the early twentieth century; the
most famous was Lampião
Capoeira
African-Brazilian martial art/dance form
Carimbó
Music and dance style from the north
Carioca
Someone or something from Rio de Janeiro
Cerrado
Scrubland
Choro
Musical style, largely instrumental
Correio
Postal service/post o
ce
Correio electrónico
Email
CUT/CGT
Brazilian trades union organizations
Engenho
Sugar mill or plantation
Ex voto
Offering of thanks to a saint for intercession
Favela
Shantytown, slum
Fazenda
Country estate, ranch house
Feira
Country market
Ferroviária
Train station
Forró
Dance and type of music from the Northeast
Frescão
Air-conditioned bus
Frevo
Frenetic musical style and dance from Recife
FUNAI
Government organization intended to protect
the interests of indigenous Brazilians; seriously
underfunded and with a history of corruption
Garimpeiro
Prospector or miner
Gaúcho
Person or thing from Rio Grande do Sul; also
southern cowboy
Gringo/a
Foreigner, Westerner (not derogatory)
Ibama
Government organization for preservation of
the environment; runs national parks and nature
reserves
Iemanjá
Goddess of the sea in candomblé
Jangada
Raft
Largo
Small square
Latifúndios
Large agricultural estates
Leito
Luxury express bus
Literatura de cordel
Literally “string literature” -
printed ballads, most common in the Northeast but
also found elsewhere, named after the string they are
suspended from in country markets
Litoral
Coast, coastal zone
Louro/a
Fair-haired/blonde - Westerners in general
Macumba
African-Brazilian religion, usually thought of
as more authentically “African” than candomblé; most
common in the North
Marginal
Petty thief, outlaw
Mata
Jungle, remote interior
Mata Atlântica
Atlantic forest - the native jungle that
once covered most of coastal Brazil and its immedi-
ate hinterland, but is now restricted to the South
Mineiro
Person or thing from Minas Gerais
Mirante
Viewing point
MPB
Música Popular Brasileira, common shorthand for
Brazilian music
Nordeste
Northeastern Brazil
Nordestino/a
Inhabitant thereof
Paulista
Person or thing from São Paulo state
Paulistano
Inhabitant of the city of São Paulo
Pelourinho
Pillory or whipping post, common in
colonial town squares
Planalto Central
Vast interior tablelands of central
Brazil
Posto
Highway service station, often with basic
accommodation popular with truckers
Pousada
Inn
Praça
Square
Praia
Beach
Quebrado
Out of order
Selva
Jungle
Senzala
Slave quarters
Sertanejo
Inhabitant of
sertão
Sertão
Arid, drought-ridden interior of the Northeast
Sesmaria
Royal Portuguese land grant to early settlers
Sobrado
Two-storey colonial mansion
Umbanda
African-Brazilian religion especially
common in urban areas of the South and Southeast
Vaqueiro
Cowboy in the North
Visto
Visa
