List of English words of Portuguese origin

Template:TWCleanup This is a list of English words borrowed or derived from Portuguese:

Albacore

from albacor from Arabic al-bukr (="the young camels")

Albino

from albino, with the same meaning, from Latin albus

Albatross

an alteration of alcatraz, under influence of the Latin word albus ("white");

Auto-da-fé, a judicial ‘act’ or sentence of the Inquisition

from auto da fé (="act/sentence of faith")

Banana

from Spanish or Portuguese (more probably from Portuguese, as the most widespread Spanish word is plátano); Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banäna banana

Baroque

from barroco (adj. = "unshapely")

Breeze

(= "from Portuguese word brisa")

Bossa nova

(= "new trend" or "new wave")

capitao, a head-man, leader of a gang, etc., in Africa.

from capitão (="captain")

Cachalot

from Portuguese cachalote (same meaning), probably via Spanish or French. The Portuguese word comes from cachola ("head" or "big head").

Café

from French café, from the portuguese word café

Caramel

from caramelo (the word is the same in Spanish too)

Caravel

from caravela

Carioca

from carioca (native of Rio de Janeiro)

carnauba

from carnaúba

Caste

from casta

cashew

from caju (a tropical fruit)

Cobra

from cobra (snake)

Cow-tree, a tree abundant in a milk-like juice

from palo de vaca (="tree of cow")

Dodo

According to Encarta Dictionary and Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, "dodo" comes from Portuguese doudo (currently, more often, doido) meaning "fool" or "crazy". The present Portuguese word dodô ("dodo") is of English origin. The Portuguese word doudo or doido may itself be a loanword from Old English (cp. English "dolt").

Embarrass

from embaraçar

Emu

from ema (="rhea")

Fetish

from French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço ("charm", "sorcery", "spell"), from Latin factitius or feticius ("artificial")

Flamingo

from Portuguese flamingo, from Spanish flamenco

Grouper

from garupa

Lambada

from lambada (="beating, lashing")

Macaque

from macaco, through French

Macaw

from macau

Mandarin

from mandarim from Malay mantri from Hindi matri from Sanskrit mantrin (="counsellor")

Mango

from manga from Tamil manggai

Mangrove

probably from Portuguese mangue mangrove (from Spanish mangle, probably from Taino) + English grove

Maraca

from maracá from Tupi

Marmalade

from marmelada, a preserve made from marmelo (="quince")

Molasses

from melaço

Monsoon

from monção

Pagoda

from pagode

palaver, a chat

from palavra (="word")

Piranha

from piranha from Tupi pira nya (="scissors")

Sablefish

from sável

Samba

from samba, ultimately of Angolan origin

Sargasso

from sargaço

Savvy

from sabe he knows, from saber to know

Tank

from tanque, could be also of Spanish origin

Tapioca

from tapioca

Teak

from teca

Verandah

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
• The category of words with Portuguese derivations at Wiktionary, Wikipedia's sister project