List_of_English_words_of_Portuguese_origin List_of_English_words_of_Portuguese_origin

List of English words of Portuguese origin - Definition and Overview

This is a list of English words borrowed from Portuguese:

albacore 
from albacor from Arabic al-bukr (="the young camels")
albino 
from albo (="white")
auto-da-fé, a judicial ‘act’ or sentence of the Inquisition 
from auto da fé (="act of faith")
bossa nova 
(= "new tendency" or "new wave")
capitao, a head-man, leader of a gang, etc., in Africa. 
from capitão (="captain")
carnauba 
from carnauba
caldera 
from caldeira (="boiler")
caste 
from casta
cobra 
short for cobra de capello (="hooded snake")
cocoa 
from cacau
cow-tree, a tree abundant in a milk-like juice 
from palo de vaca (="tree of cow")
dodo 
from dodó
emu 
from ema (="rhea")
grouper 
from garupa
lambada 
from lambada (="beating, lashing")
macaw 
from macau
mandarin 
from mandarim from Malay mantri from Hindi matri from Sanskrit mantrin (="counsellor")
mango 
from manga from Malay mangga
maraca 
from maracá from Tupi
molasses 
from melaço
pagoda 
from pagode
palaver, a chat 
from palavra (="word")
piranha 
from piranha from Tupi pira nya (="scissors")
sablefish 
from savel
samba 
from samba, ultimately of Angolan origin
tank 
from tanque
tapioca 
from tapioca
teak 
from teca
veranda 
from varanda (="balcony" or "railing"), from Hindi varanda or Bengali baranda
yam 
from inhame from West African nyama (="eat")
zebra 
from zebra

See also: Lists of English words of international origin

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