Capoeira Name Generator

Portuguese apelidos with English glosses for the roda

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Capoeira nickname ideas in Portuguese, each with a short English gloss: animals like Onça Pintada (spotted jaguar), forces of nature like Relâmpago (lightning), and jokes about how someone plays, like Ligeirinho (quick one) and Risadinha (giggle).

About capoeira names

In capoeira almost nobody goes by the name on their documents. Students receive an apelido, a nickname in Portuguese, usually at the batizado, the ceremony that welcomes a beginner into the group. The mestre or the group gives it, and it tends to come from something people noticed: the way you move, where you are from, your temper, or a joke that stuck. That is why so many apelidos are animals, weather and everyday things instead of heroic titles.

This list has 1,000 ideas, each a Portuguese word or short phrase with an English gloss in parentheses. It mixes animals of Brazil, birds, insects and sea life, weather and landscape, movement and speed, temperament, size and build said kindly, food, plants, instruments and roda words, places of origin, trades, diminutives in -inho, augmentatives in -ão, and feminine forms such as Leoa and Guerreira. A few entries are labeled as the names of mestres who have died, including Bimba and Pastinha.

Use it to learn the tradition, to name a character, or to arrive at class with a few favorites in mind. Your own apelido is not something a website can hand you: it comes from your teacher and the people you train with.

How to choose capoeira names

  • Use only the Portuguese part. The words in parentheses are an English gloss, so Beija-Flor (hummingbird) is simply Beija-Flor in the roda.
  • Match the ending to the person. Many words change with gender: Guerreiro becomes Guerreira, Baiano becomes Baiana and Ligeirinho becomes Ligeirinha. Others, such as Valente and Onça, stay the same for anyone.
  • Say it out loud before you get attached. An apelido is called across a noisy roda, so two or three clear syllables, as in Pimenta or Trovão, carry better than a long phrase.
  • Ask a Portuguese speaker how the word lands. Everyday words can carry slang meanings that differ by region, and a teacher from Brazil will know.
  • Treat any name here as a suggestion to bring to your mestre, not as a name to give yourself. If the group has already started calling you something else, that one has probably won.

Frequently asked questions

What is a capoeira apelido?

An apelido is the Portuguese nickname a capoeirista goes by inside the art. It is usually one word or a short phrase, such as Formiga (ant), Relâmpago (lightning) or Perna Longa (long leg), and it often says something about how the person moves or behaves. Most groups give it at the batizado.

Can I choose my own capoeira name?

Traditionally no: the mestre or the group chooses it, often on the spot and with a sense of humor. This generator offers ideas and explains what the words mean, but it cannot give you your capoeira name. Many teachers are happy to hear a suggestion, so it does no harm to arrive with a short list.

Why are so many capoeira names animals?

Animals are an easy way to describe how someone plays. A low, patient player may be called Jacaré (caiman), a light and fast one Beija-Flor (hummingbird), and a small, tireless one Formiga (ant). A large share of the list is animals, birds, insects and sea creatures, most of them found in Brazil.

Are there feminine capoeira names?

Yes. Portuguese marks gender on many nouns and adjectives, so the list includes forms such as Leoa (lioness), Guerreira (warrior woman) and Baiana (woman from Bahia). Plenty of apelidos are the same for everyone, and a woman can be called Onça or Tempestade just as a man can be called Formiga.

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All 1,000 capoeira names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 67 names

  • Abacate (avocado)
  • Abacaxi (pineapple)
  • Abadá (capoeira trousers)
  • Abelha (bee)
  • Abelhinha (busy little bee)
  • Abóbora (pumpkin)
  • Açafrão (saffron, also the everyday word for turmeric)
  • Açaí (açaí berry)
  • Acarajé (black-eyed pea fritter of Bahia)
  • Aço (steel)
  • Acrobata (acrobat)
  • Açucena (white lily)
  • Afoxé (beaded gourd, also a carnival procession)

A, continued

  • Ágil (agile)
  • Agogô (double bell)
  • Água de Coco (coconut water)
  • Água-Viva (jellyfish)
  • Águia (eagle)
  • Albatroz (albatross)
  • Alecrim (rosemary)
  • Alegre (cheerful)
  • Alegria (joy)
  • Alfaiate (tailor)
  • Algodão-Doce (cotton candy)
  • Alvorada (daybreak)
  • Amarelinha (hopscotch)

A, continued

  • Amazona (horsewoman, Amazon)
  • Amendoim (peanut)
  • Amor-Perfeito (pansy, literally perfect love)
  • Amora (mulberry)
  • Âncora (anchor)
  • Andarilho (wanderer)
  • Andorinha (swallow)
  • Angola (the old style of capoeira, also the country)
  • Angoleiro (player of Capoeira Angola)
  • Anu (ani)
  • Anzol (fishhook)
  • Aprendiz (apprentice)
  • Apressado (in a hurry)
  • Araçá (a small wild guava)

A, continued

  • Arame (wire, the berimbau's string)
  • Araponga (bellbird)
  • Arara (macaw)
  • Arara-Azul (hyacinth macaw)
  • Araucária (Paraná pine)
  • Arco-Íris (rainbow)
  • Areia (sand)
  • Ariranha (giant otter)
  • Arisco (wary, hard to catch)
  • Armada (a spinning kick)
  • Aroeira (peppertree)
  • Arraia (stingray, also a paper kite)
  • Arruda (rue, a herb kept for protection)

A, continued

  • Arteiro (full of tricks)
  • Aruanda (the far homeland sung of in the roda)
  • Asa-Branca (white-winged pigeon of the sertão)
  • Atabaque (tall hand drum)
  • Atalho (shortcut)
  • Atento (alert)
  • Atrevido (cheeky)
  • Atum (tuna)
  • Aú (cartwheel)
  • Aurora (dawn)
  • Avoado (head in the clouds)
  • Axé (life force, good energy)
  • Azougue (quicksilver, a restless soul)
  • Azulão (ultramarine grosbeak, a deep-blue songbird)

B: 90 names

  • Babaçu (babassu palm)
  • Bacurau (nightjar)
  • Bagunça (mess)
  • Bahia (the state whose capital is Salvador)
  • Baiana (woman from Bahia)
  • Baiano (from Bahia)
  • Baião de Dois (rice and beans of Ceará)
  • Bailarina (ballerina)
  • Baixinha (shorty, said fondly to a woman)
  • Baixinho (shorty, said fondly)
  • Bala (bullet, also a piece of candy)
  • Balaio (big woven basket)
  • Balanço (swing)
  • Balão (balloon, also a capoeira throw)
  • Balinha (small candy)

B, continued

  • Bamba (ace, old hand)
  • Bambu (bamboo)
  • Bananeira (handstand, literally banana tree)
  • Baqueta (the stick that strikes the wire)
  • Baraúna (a hardwood of the Northeast)
  • Barbicha (goatee)
  • Barbudo (bearded)
  • Barqueiro (boatman)
  • Barro (clay)
  • Barulho (noise)
  • Batata (potato)
  • Bate-Bola (kickabout)
  • Bate-Papo (chat)
  • Batucada (percussion jam)
  • Batuque (drumming)

B, continued

  • Batuqueiro (drummer)
  • Batuta (conductor's baton, also an ace)
  • Beija-Flor (hummingbird)
  • Beijinho (coconut sweet, literally small kiss)
  • Beiju (manioc flatbread)
  • Beira-Mar (seaside)
  • Beira-Rio (riverside)
  • Beleza (beauty, also a way to say fine)
  • Bem-Me-Quer (daisy, literally loves me)
  • Bem-te-vi (great kiskadee)
  • Bênção (blessing, also a push kick)
  • Benguela (a slow, flowing berimbau rhythm)
  • Berimbau (the musical bow that leads the roda)
  • Besouro (beetle)
  • Besouro Mangangá (legendary capoeirista of old Bahia)

B, continued

  • Bezerro (calf)
  • Bichano (kitty)
  • Bicho do Mato (shy one, literally creature of the woods)
  • Bicho-Preguiça (sloth)
  • Bigode (mustache)
  • Bimba (apelido of the late Mestre Bimba)
  • Biriba (the wood berimbaus are made of)
  • Biscoito (cookie)
  • Boa Praça (good sort)
  • Boa Sorte (good luck)
  • Boca de Siri (tight-lipped, literally crab mouth)
  • Boi Bravo (wild ox)
  • Boi-Bumbá (the ox festival of the Amazon)
  • Boiadeiro (cattle driver)
  • Boitatá (the fire serpent of legend)

B, continued

  • Bolinho (fritter, literally little cake)
  • Bom de Papo (good talker)
  • Bonachão (good-natured fellow)
  • Boné (cap)
  • Bonitão (big handsome guy)
  • Bonitinho (cutie)
  • Bonito (bonito tuna, also handsome)
  • Borboleta (butterfly)
  • Borboletinha (little butterfly)
  • Boto (river dolphin)
  • Boto-Cor-de-Rosa (pink river dolphin)
  • Brabo (hot-tempered)
  • Braço Forte (strong arm)
  • Brasa (ember)
  • Brasileirinho (young Brazilian, also a famous choro tune)

B, continued

  • Brasileiro (Brazilian)
  • Brava (fierce, feminine form)
  • Bravinho (little grump)
  • Bravo (fierce)
  • Brigadeiro (chocolate fudge ball)
  • Brigão (scrapper)
  • Brincalhão (joker)
  • Brincalhona (joker, feminine form)
  • Brisa (breeze)
  • Bromélia (bromeliad)
  • Brotinho (little sprout)
  • Broto (sprout)
  • Búfalo (buffalo)
  • Bumba Meu Boi (the ox pageant of the Northeast)
  • Búzio (cowrie shell)

C: 143 names

  • Caatinga (thorn scrub of the Northeast)
  • Cabaça (gourd, the berimbau's resonator)
  • Cabeça Fria (cool head)
  • Cabeça-Dura (stubborn, literally hard head)
  • Cabeçada (headbutt)
  • Cabeludo (long-haired)
  • Cabo de Guerra (tug of war)
  • Cabrito (kid goat)
  • Caçador (hunter)
  • Caçadora (huntress)
  • Cacheado (curly-haired)
  • Cachinho (ringlet)
  • Cachoeira (waterfall)
  • Cacto (cactus)

C, continued

  • Caçula (the youngest of the family)
  • Caiçara (coast dweller of the Southeast)
  • Caipora (spirit keeper of the forest animals)
  • Cajá (hog plum)
  • Caju (cashew fruit)
  • Cajueiro (cashew tree)
  • Calado (silent)
  • Calango (small lizard of the backlands)
  • Calmo (calm)
  • Calouro (freshman)
  • Camaleão (chameleon)
  • Camará (comrade, as sung in the roda)
  • Cambalhota (forward roll)
  • Cambuci (a sour fruit of the Atlantic Forest)

C, continued

  • Campeã (woman champion)
  • Canarinho (little canary)
  • Canário (canary)
  • Candango (pioneer of Brasília)
  • Canela (cinnamon, also shin)
  • Canela de Ferro (iron shin)
  • Canhoto (left-hander)
  • Caninana (a fast tree snake)
  • Canja (chicken soup, also slang for easy)
  • Canjica (sweet hominy pudding)
  • Canoa (canoe)
  • Canoeiro (canoe man)
  • Cantador (singer)
  • Cantora (woman singer)

C, continued

  • Capim (grass)
  • Capitão (captain)
  • Capivara (capybara)
  • Capixaba (from Espírito Santo)
  • Capricho (whim, also great care)
  • Caracol (snail)
  • Caranguejo (crab)
  • Carcará (caracara, a bird of prey of the backlands)
  • Carioca (native of the city of Rio de Janeiro)
  • Carnaúba (wax palm)
  • Carnaval (carnival)
  • Carneiro (ram)
  • Carpinteiro (carpenter)
  • Carrapicho (burr that clings)
  • Caruru (okra and shrimp stew)

C, continued

  • Carvalho (oak)
  • Casca-Grossa (tough, literally thick bark)
  • Cascavel (rattlesnake)
  • Cascudo (armored catfish)
  • Castanha (chestnut, also cashew nut)
  • Catavento (pinwheel)
  • Cavalaria (cavalry, the rhythm that warned of police)
  • Cavalo-Marinho (seahorse)
  • Cavaquinho (small four-string guitar)
  • Caxixi (woven basket rattle)
  • Cearense (from Ceará)
  • Cebola (onion)
  • Cebolinha (chive)
  • Cedinho (bright and early)

C, continued

  • Cedro (cedar)
  • Cegonha (stork)
  • Centopeia (centipede)
  • Cereja (cherry)
  • Cerejinha (small cherry)
  • Cerrado (the savanna of central Brazil)
  • Certinho (by the book, literally little correct)
  • Cervo (deer)
  • Céu (sky)
  • Chama (flame)
  • Chamada (the call, a ritual of Capoeira Angola)
  • Chapada (tableland)
  • Chapéu (hat)
  • Chinelo (flip-flop)

C, continued

  • Chocalho (rattle)
  • Chuva (rain)
  • Chuva de Verão (summer rain)
  • Chuvinha (light rain)
  • Cigarra (cicada)
  • Cipó (liana)
  • Ciranda (circle dance)
  • Cisne (swan)
  • Cobra (snake)
  • Cobra-Cipó (vine snake)
  • Cobra-Coral (coral snake)
  • Cobrinha Verde (a late mestre, literally small green snake)
  • Cocada (coconut candy)
  • Coco (coconut)
  • Coco Verde (green coconut)

C, continued

  • Cocoricó (cock-a-doodle-doo)
  • Cocorinha (the squatting dodge)
  • Codorna (quail)
  • Coelhinho (bunny)
  • Coelho (rabbit)
  • Comandante (commander)
  • Cometa (comet)
  • Comigo-Ninguém-Pode (dumb cane, literally nobody beats me)
  • Compasso (compass, as in the wheeling kick)
  • Comprido (long and tall)
  • Concha (seashell)
  • Coqueiro (coconut palm)
  • Coração de Leão (lionheart)
  • Coração de Ouro (heart of gold)

C, continued

  • Coração Valente (brave heart)
  • Coragem (courage)
  • Coral (coral)
  • Corça (doe)
  • Corcel (steed)
  • Corda (rope)
  • Cordão (cord belt)
  • Cordel (chapbook poetry of the Northeast)
  • Corredeira (rapids)
  • Corredor (runner)
  • Correnteza (river current)
  • Corrido (call-and-response song)
  • Corrupio (whirligig)
  • Coruja (owl)

C, continued

  • Corujinha (owlet)
  • Corvo (crow)
  • Covinha (dimple)
  • Cravo (carnation, also clove)
  • Cristal (crystal)
  • Crocodilo (crocodile)
  • Cruzeiro do Sul (Southern Cross)
  • Cuca (the bogey of lullabies)
  • Cumaru (tonka bean tree)
  • Cupim (termite)
  • Curinga (joker card)
  • Curioso (curious)
  • Curupira (forest guardian with backward feet)
  • Cuscuz (steamed corn couscous)
  • Cutia (agouti)

D: 27 names

  • Danada (rascal, said of a girl)
  • Danadinho (little rascal)
  • Danado (rascal)
  • Dançarina (woman dancer)
  • Dançarino (dancer)
  • Deixa Comigo (leave it to me)
  • Deixa Disso (let it go, the peacemaker)
  • Dendê (palm oil)
  • Dengoso (fussy and cuddly)
  • Dente de Leite (baby tooth)
  • Dente-de-Leão (dandelion)
  • Desastrado (accident-prone)
  • Destemido (fearless)

D, continued

  • Deusa (goddess)
  • Devagar e Sempre (slow and steady)
  • Devagarinho (nice and slow)
  • Diamante (diamond)
  • Distraído (absent-minded)
  • Dobrão (the coin pressed against the berimbau wire)
  • Doce de Leite (milk caramel)
  • Dorminhoca (sleepyhead, feminine form)
  • Dorminhoco (sleepyhead)
  • Dourado (dorado, the golden river fish)
  • Doutor (doctor)
  • Dragão (dragon)
  • Duna (dune)
  • Durão (tough guy)

E: 22 names

  • Elegante (elegant)
  • Elétrico (wired, literally electric)
  • Ema (rhea)
  • Encruzilhada (crossroads)
  • Ensaboado (soaped up, hard to hold)
  • Equilibrista (tightrope walker)
  • Esconde-Esconde (hide-and-seek)
  • Escorpião (scorpion)
  • Esmeralda (emerald)
  • Esperança (hope)
  • Esperta (clever, feminine form)

E, continued

  • Espertinho (smarty)
  • Esperto (clever)
  • Espinho (thorn)
  • Espoleta (firecracker cap, a live wire)
  • Esquilo (squirrel)
  • Esquiva (dodge)
  • Estabanado (clumsy and hasty)
  • Estivador (dockworker)
  • Estrela Cadente (shooting star)
  • Estrela-d'Alva (morning star)
  • Estrela-do-Mar (starfish)

F: 48 names

  • Faceira (bright and charming)
  • Fada (fairy)
  • Fadinha (little fairy)
  • Faísca (spark)
  • Faisquinha (tiny spark)
  • Faladeira (talkative woman)
  • Falador (talker)
  • Falcão (falcon)
  • Fantasma (ghost)
  • Farinha (manioc flour)
  • Farofa (toasted manioc flour)
  • Farol (lighthouse)

F, continued

  • Favo de Mel (honeycomb)
  • Fé (faith)
  • Feijão (beans)
  • Feijoada (black bean stew)
  • Feiticeira (sorceress)
  • Fênix (phoenix)
  • Ferreiro (blacksmith)
  • Ferro (iron)
  • Fibra (mettle, literally fiber)
  • Fiel (faithful)
  • Firme (steady)
  • Firmeza (steadiness)

F, continued

  • Flamingo (flamingo)
  • Flecha (arrow)
  • Flor do Campo (wildflower)
  • Floreio (acrobatic flourish)
  • Floresta (forest)
  • Foca (seal)
  • Fogo (fire)
  • Fogueira (bonfire)
  • Foguete (rocket)
  • Foguinho (little fire)
  • Folha (leaf)
  • Forasteiro (outsider)

F, continued

  • Formiga (ant)
  • Formiguinha (tiny ant)
  • Forró (dance music of the Northeast)
  • Forrozeiro (forró lover)
  • Fortão (big strong guy)
  • Forte (strong)
  • Fósforo (matchstick)
  • Fragata (frigatebird)
  • Frevo (fast carnival dance of Recife)
  • Fubá (cornmeal)
  • Furacão (hurricane)
  • Furtivo (stealthy)

G: 58 names

  • Gafanhoto (grasshopper)
  • Gaivota (seagull)
  • Galinho (little rooster)
  • Galo (rooster)
  • Galo-da-Serra (cock-of-the-rock)
  • Galope (gallop)
  • Gameleira (wild fig tree)
  • Gancho (hook)
  • Ganzá (shaker)
  • Garça (egret)
  • Garça Branca (white egret)
  • Gargalhada (belly laugh)
  • Garimpeiro (gold prospector)
  • Garoa (misty drizzle)

G, continued

  • Garotão (big lad)
  • Garotinho (little boy)
  • Garoto (boy)
  • Garoupa (grouper)
  • Garra (grit, literally claw)
  • Gato Bravo (fierce cat)
  • Gato-do-Mato (wildcat)
  • Gaúcha (woman from Rio Grande do Sul)
  • Gaúcho (from Rio Grande do Sul)
  • Gavião (hawk)
  • Gavião-Real (harpy eagle)
  • Gazela (gazelle)
  • Gengibre (ginger)
  • Gente Boa (nice person, literally good people)
  • Gentil (kind)

G, continued

  • Gigante (giant)
  • Ginasta (gymnast)
  • Ginga (the basic sway of capoeira)
  • Gingado (swaying walk)
  • Girassol (sunflower)
  • Girino (tadpole)
  • Giro (spin)
  • Goiaba (guava)
  • Goiano (from Goiás)
  • Golaço (great goal)
  • Goleiro (goalkeeper)
  • Golfinho (dolphin)
  • Gralha-Azul (azure jay)
  • Grandão (big guy)

G, continued

  • Granizo (hail)
  • Gravata (necktie, also a neck hold)
  • Graxaim (pampas fox)
  • Grilo (cricket)
  • Gringa (foreign woman)
  • Gringo (foreigner)
  • Gruta (grotto)
  • Guanabara (the bay of Rio de Janeiro)
  • Guará (scarlet ibis)
  • Guaraná (guarana, an Amazon berry and its soda)
  • Guarda-Chuva (umbrella)
  • Guaxinim (raccoon)
  • Guerreira (warrior woman)
  • Guerreiro (warrior)
  • Gunga (the deep-voiced berimbau)

H: 2 names

  • Hortelã (mint)
  • Humilde (humble)

I: 9 names

  • Iara (river mermaid of legend)
  • Igarapé (Amazon forest creek)
  • Iguaçu (the great falls of the South)
  • Iguana (iguana)
  • Ilha (island)
  • Invicto (undefeated)
  • Ipê (trumpet tree)
  • Itaparica (island in the bay of Salvador)
  • Iúna (a berimbau rhythm named after a bird)

J: 26 names

  • Já Vai (on my way)
  • Jabuti (tortoise)
  • Jaca (jackfruit)
  • Jaçanã (jacana)
  • Jacarandá (rosewood)
  • Jacaré (caiman)
  • Jacarezinho (little caiman)
  • Jaguatirica (ocelot)
  • Jangada (sailing raft)
  • Jangadeiro (raft fisherman of the Northeast)
  • Jaqueira (jackfruit tree)
  • Jasmim (jasmine)
  • Jato (jet)

J, continued

  • Jatobá (jatoba, a tall hardwood)
  • Javali (wild boar)
  • Jeitoso (handy, with a knack)
  • Jenipapo (genipap)
  • Jequitibá (jequitiba, giant of the forest)
  • Jerimum (pumpkin, Northeast word)
  • Jiboia (boa constrictor)
  • Jiló (jiló, a bitter green fruit)
  • João Pequeno (a late mestre, literally João the small)
  • João-de-Barro (ovenbird, literally João of clay)
  • Juazeiro (jujube tree of the sertão)
  • Juriti (forest dove)
  • Justo (fair)

L: 47 names

  • Labareda (tongue of flame)
  • Ladainha (the solo that opens an Angola roda)
  • Ladeira (steep street)
  • Lagarta (caterpillar)
  • Lagartixa (gecko)
  • Lagarto (lizard)
  • Lagoa (lagoon)
  • Lagosta (lobster)
  • Lambari (tetra, a tiny river fish)
  • Lamparina (small oil lamp)
  • Lapa (the bohemian quarter of Rio)

L, continued

  • Laranjeira (orange tree)
  • Leal (loyal)
  • Leão (lion)
  • Leãozinho (little lion)
  • Lebre (hare)
  • Lenço (kerchief)
  • Lenhador (woodcutter)
  • Leoa (lioness)
  • Lero-Lero (idle chatter)
  • Levada (mischievous, feminine form)
  • Levado (mischievous)
  • Libélula (dragonfly)

L, continued

  • Ligeira (quick, feminine form)
  • Ligeirinha (quick girl)
  • Ligeirinho (quick one)
  • Ligeiro (quick)
  • Limão (lime)
  • Língua Solta (loose tongue)
  • Lírio (lily)
  • Liso (slippery)
  • Loba (she-wolf)
  • Lobinho (wolf cub)
  • Lobisomem (werewolf)
  • Lobo (wolf)

L, continued

  • Lobo Solitário (lone wolf)
  • Lobo-Guará (maned wolf)
  • Lontra (otter)
  • Louro (bay leaf, also a pet parrot)
  • Louva-a-Deus (praying mantis)
  • Louvação (the praise verses of a song)
  • Lua (moon)
  • Lua Cheia (full moon)
  • Luanda (capital of Angola)
  • Luar (moonlight)
  • Lutador (fighter)
  • Lutadora (woman fighter)

M: 81 names

  • Maculelê (stick dance)
  • Madeira (wood)
  • Madrinha (godmother)
  • Madrugada (the small hours)
  • Mágico (magician)
  • Malabarista (juggler)
  • Malagueta (malagueta chili)
  • Malasartes (the trickster of old folk tales)
  • Malícia (the cunning of the game)
  • Mamangava (bumblebee)
  • Manauara (native of Manaus)
  • Mandacaru (tall cactus of the Northeast)
  • Mandão (bossy one)

M, continued

  • Mandinga (the magic and guile of capoeira)
  • Mandingueiro (a player full of mandinga)
  • Manga (mango)
  • Mangue (mangrove)
  • Manha (craftiness)
  • Manhoso (wily)
  • Mansa (gentle, feminine form)
  • Mansinho (softly, softly)
  • Manso (gentle)
  • Manteiga (butter)
  • Mão de Ferro (iron hand)
  • Mão Firme (steady hand)
  • Mão na Roda (a great help, literally a hand on the wheel)
  • Mar (sea)

M, continued

  • Maracajá (margay)
  • Maracatu (carnival tradition of Pernambuco)
  • Maracujá (passion fruit)
  • Marajó (island at the mouth of the Amazon)
  • Maré (tide)
  • Maré Alta (high tide)
  • Maré Mansa (calm tide)
  • Maresia (salt sea air)
  • Margarida (daisy)
  • Marimbondo (hornet)
  • Marinheira (woman sailor)
  • Marinheiro (sailor)
  • Marisco (shellfish)

M, continued

  • Maritaca (noisy green parrot)
  • Maroto (cheeky rogue)
  • Marreco (teal)
  • Marreta (sledgehammer)
  • Martelo (hammer, also a roundhouse kick)
  • Martim-Pescador (kingfisher)
  • Mateiro (woodsman)
  • Matreiro (sly)
  • Medalha (medal)
  • Médio (the middle berimbau)
  • Meia-Lua (half moon, also a capoeira kick)
  • Meia-Volta (about-face)
  • Menina (girl)
  • Menino (lad)

M, continued

  • Mergulhão (grebe, literally big diver)
  • Mergulho (dive)
  • Mexerica (mandarin)
  • Milho (corn)
  • Mineira (woman from Minas Gerais)
  • Mineiro (from Minas Gerais)
  • Mingau (porridge)
  • Minhoca (earthworm)
  • Minuano (the cold wind of the South)
  • Mirim (small, a word from Tupi)
  • Mistério (mystery)
  • Miudinho (itty-bitty, also a quick samba step)
  • Miúdo (small one)

M, continued

  • Mocinho (the good guy of the movie)
  • Mola (coiled spring)
  • Molejo (springy sway)
  • Montanha (mountain)
  • Moqueca (fish stew with coconut milk)
  • Morango (strawberry)
  • Morcego (bat)
  • Moreia (moray eel)
  • Mormaço (muggy heat)
  • Morro (hill)
  • Mortal (somersault in the air)
  • Mosquito (mosquito)
  • Muriçoca (mosquito, Northeast word)
  • Mutuca (horsefly)

N: 11 names

  • Namorado (sandperch, literally boyfriend)
  • Não Cansa (never tires)
  • Não Para (never stops)
  • Neblina (mist)
  • Negativa (the low dodge)
  • Neve (snow)
  • Nó (knot)
  • Nobre (noble)
  • Nordestino (Northeasterner)
  • Novato (newcomer)
  • Nuvem (cloud)

O: 17 names

  • Olho de Águia (eagle eye)
  • Olho Vivo (sharp eye)
  • Olinda (hill town beside Recife)
  • Onça (jaguar)
  • Onça Parda (puma)
  • Onça Pintada (spotted jaguar)
  • Oncinha (jaguar cub)
  • Onda (wave)

O, continued

  • Ondinha (wavelet)
  • Orquídea (orchid)
  • Orvalho (dew)
  • Osso Duro (tough nut, literally hard bone)
  • Ostra (oyster)
  • Ouriço (hedgehog)
  • Ouro (gold)
  • Ousadia (boldness)
  • Ousado (daring)

P: 113 names

  • Paca (paca, a forest rodent)
  • Paciência (patience)
  • Paçoca (crushed peanut candy)
  • Paçoquinha (little peanut candy)
  • Padeiro (baker)
  • Palmares (the great quilombo of colonial Brazil)
  • Palmeira (palm tree)
  • Pandeirista (tambourine player)
  • Pandeiro (tambourine)
  • Pantanal (the great wetland)
  • Pantaneiro (man of the Pantanal wetlands)
  • Pantera (panther)
  • Pão de Queijo (cheese bread)
  • Papagaio (parrot)

P, continued

  • Para-Raios (lightning rod)
  • Paraense (from Pará)
  • Parafuso (screw, also a spinning kick)
  • Paraibano (from Paraíba)
  • Paranauê (refrain of a well-known capoeira song)
  • Pardal (sparrow)
  • Parrudo (brawny)
  • Passarinho (songbird, literally small bird)
  • Pássaro (bird)
  • Passista (samba dancer)
  • Passo de Gato (cat's step)
  • Passo Leve (light step)
  • Pastinha (name of the late Mestre Pastinha)
  • Patativa (seedeater, a songbird)

P, continued

  • Pau-Brasil (brazilwood)
  • Pau-Ferro (ironwood)
  • Paulista (from the state of São Paulo)
  • Pavão (peacock)
  • Pavio (wick)
  • Pavio Curto (short fuse)
  • Pé de Coelho (rabbit's foot, a lucky charm)
  • Pé de Ferro (iron foot)
  • Pé de Mola (spring foot)
  • Pé de Moleque (peanut brittle)
  • Pé de Valsa (good dancer, literally waltz foot)
  • Pé de Vento (gust, literally foot of wind)
  • Pé Descalço (barefoot)
  • Pé Leve (light foot)

P, continued

  • Pé Ligeiro (quick foot)
  • Pé na Estrada (on the road)
  • Pé no Chão (down to earth, literally foot on the ground)
  • Pé Quente (lucky, literally hot foot)
  • Pedra (stone)
  • Pedrinha (pebble, literally little stone)
  • Pega-Pega (game of tag)
  • Peixe (fish)
  • Peixe-Voador (flying fish)
  • Pelicano (pelican)
  • Penhasco (cliff)
  • Pequenina (tiny one, feminine)
  • Pequenino (tiny one)
  • Pequi (pequi, the thorny fruit of the cerrado)

P, continued

  • Peregrino (pilgrim)
  • Perna Longa (long leg)
  • Pernambucano (from Pernambuco)
  • Pernilongo (mosquito, literally long leg)
  • Pérola (pearl)
  • Pescador (fisherman)
  • Pestana (eyelash, also a quick nap)
  • Peteca (shuttlecock hit with the hand)
  • Pezão (big foot)
  • Pezinho (small foot)
  • Piaba (minnow)
  • Piadista (teller of jokes)
  • Pião (spinning top)
  • Pica-Pau (woodpecker)

P, continued

  • Picolé (popsicle)
  • Pífano (fife)
  • Pilão (big wooden mortar)
  • Pilha (battery, a bundle of energy)
  • Pimenta (pepper)
  • Pimentinha (hot little pepper)
  • Pingo (drop)
  • Pinguim (penguin)
  • Pinheiro (pine tree)
  • Pintado (spotted river catfish)
  • Pipa (kite)
  • Pipoca (popcorn)
  • Piracema (the upstream run of spawning fish)
  • Pirarucu (arapaima, giant of the Amazon)

P, continued

  • Pirata (pirate)
  • Pirueta (pirouette)
  • Pirulito (lollipop)
  • Pisca-Pisca (twinkling lights)
  • Piscar de Olhos (blink of an eye)
  • Pitanga (Surinam cherry)
  • Poderosa (powerful woman)
  • Poeira (dust)
  • Polvo (octopus)
  • Pólvora (gunpowder)
  • Pombo (pigeon)
  • Ponta Firme (dependable, literally firm point)
  • Pontapé (kick)
  • Ponteira (toe kick)

P, continued

  • Pôr do Sol (sunset)
  • Poraquê (electric eel)
  • Porco-Espinho (porcupine)
  • Pororoca (tidal bore of the Amazon)
  • Potiguar (from Rio Grande do Norte)
  • Potro (colt)
  • Praia (beach)
  • Prata (silver)
  • Preá (wild cavy)
  • Preguiça (laziness, also the sloth)
  • Princesinha (little princess)
  • Pula-Pula (bouncy, never still)
  • Pulga (flea)
  • Pulo (jump)
  • Puxada de Rede (the fishermen's net-pulling dance)

Q: 15 names

  • Quadra (four-line song verse)
  • Quase Lá (almost there)
  • Quati (coati)
  • Quebra-Cabeça (jigsaw puzzle)
  • Quebra-Galho (handy fixer, literally branch breaker)
  • Quebra-Mar (breakwater)
  • Queda de Braço (arm wrestling)
  • Queijo (cheese)
  • Queixada (peccary, also a capoeira kick)
  • Quero-Quero (lapwing)
  • Quiabo (okra, slippery as can be)
  • Quietinha (quiet girl)
  • Quietinho (quiet little one)
  • Quieto (quiet)
  • Quilombola (dweller of a quilombo)

R: 45 names

  • Rã (frog)
  • Rabeca (folk fiddle)
  • Rabo de Arraia (stingray tail, an old kick)
  • Raçudo (gritty)
  • Rainha (queen)
  • Raio (lightning bolt)
  • Raio de Sol (sunbeam)
  • Raiz (root)
  • Rajada (sudden gust)
  • Ranzinza (grouch)
  • Rapadura (brick of raw cane sugar)
  • Rápido (fast)
  • Raposa (fox)
  • Raposinha (little fox)
  • Rasteira (leg sweep)

R, continued

  • Recife (reef, also the capital of Pernambuco)
  • Reco-Reco (scraper)
  • Recôncavo (the bay region around Salvador)
  • Recruta (recruit)
  • Rede (hammock, also a fishing net)
  • Redemoinho (whirlwind)
  • Regional (the style created by Mestre Bimba)
  • Rei (king)
  • Relâmpago (lightning)
  • Rendeira (lace maker)
  • Repente (improvised verse duel)
  • Resmungão (grumbler)
  • Riacho (creek)
  • Ribeirinho (one who lives by the river)
  • Rio (river)

R, continued

  • Risada (laugh)
  • Risadinha (giggle)
  • Risonha (smiley, feminine form)
  • Risonho (smiley)
  • Ritmo (rhythm)
  • Robalo (snook)
  • Rocha (rock)
  • Roda (the circle where capoeira is played)
  • Rodopio (twirl)
  • Rojão (skyrocket)
  • Rolê (roll along the floor)
  • Romã (pomegranate)
  • Rosa (rose)
  • Rouxinol (nightingale)
  • Rubi (ruby)

S: 74 names

  • Sabiá (thrush)
  • Sabichão (know-it-all)
  • Sabido (shrewd)
  • Sábio (wise man)
  • Sagaz (sharp-witted)
  • Saltador (jumper)
  • Saltimbanco (street tumbler)
  • Salto (leap)
  • Samba (samba)
  • Samba de Roda (circle samba of Bahia)
  • Sambador (dancer of samba de roda)
  • Sampa (pet name for São Paulo)
  • Sanfona (accordion)
  • Sanfoneiro (accordion player)

S, continued

  • Sangue Bom (good guy, literally good blood)
  • Sangue Quente (hot-blooded)
  • Sangue-Frio (cool under pressure)
  • Santo Amaro (a town of the Recôncavo)
  • São Bento (Saint Benedict, as in the berimbau rhythms)
  • Sapateiro (shoemaker)
  • Sapeca (playful scamp)
  • Sapequinha (playful girl)
  • Sapinho (little frog)
  • Sapo-Cururu (cane toad)
  • Sardinha (sardine)
  • Sargento (sergeant)
  • Saudade (longing)
  • Saúva (leafcutter ant)
  • Sem Medo (without fear)

S, continued

  • Sem Pressa (no hurry)
  • Semente (seed)
  • Sementinha (little seed)
  • Sempre Alerta (always alert)
  • Sempre Rindo (always laughing)
  • Sempre-Viva (everlasting flower)
  • Sentinela (sentry)
  • Sereia (mermaid)
  • Serena (serene)
  • Sereno (night dew, also calm)
  • Seresteiro (serenader)
  • Seriema (seriema, a long-legged runner)
  • Serpente (serpent)
  • Serra (mountain range)
  • Sertanejo (man of the backlands)

S, continued

  • Sertão (the dry backlands)
  • Sete Léguas (seven leagues, as in the boots)
  • Sete Vidas (seven lives, as a cat has in Brazil)
  • Silêncio (silence)
  • Simpatia (charm)
  • Simpático (friendly)
  • Sincero (sincere)
  • Siri (swimming crab)
  • Sobe e Desce (up and down)
  • Sol Nascente (rising sun)
  • Soldado (soldier)
  • Sombra (shadow)
  • Soneca (nap)
  • Sonhador (dreamer)
  • Sonhadora (dreamer, feminine form)

S, continued

  • Sonho (dream, also a cream doughnut)
  • Sopro (puff of breath)
  • Sorrateiro (sneaky)
  • Sorriso (smile)
  • Sorte (luck)
  • Sortudo (lucky one)
  • Sossegado (laid-back)
  • Sossego (peace and quiet)
  • Soteropolitano (native of Salvador)
  • Suçuarana (cougar)
  • Sucuri (anaconda)
  • Sumaúma (kapok tree, giant of the Amazon)
  • Surucucu (bushmaster)
  • Sururu (small mussel, also slang for a ruckus)
  • Suspiro (sigh, also a meringue)

T: 56 names

  • Tagarela (chatterbox)
  • Tainha (mullet)
  • Tamanduá (anteater)
  • Tamanduá-Bandeira (giant anteater)
  • Tambaqui (big fruit-eating Amazon fish)
  • Tambor (drum)
  • Tamborim (small frame drum)
  • Tampinha (bottle cap, a short one)
  • Tangará (manakin, a dancing bird)
  • Tangerina (tangerine)
  • Tapioca (tapioca crepe)
  • Tardinha (late afternoon)
  • Tartaruga (turtle)
  • Tartaruga-Marinha (sea turtle)

T, continued

  • Tatu (armadillo)
  • Tatu-Bola (three-banded armadillo)
  • Taturana (stinging caterpillar)
  • Teimosa (stubborn, feminine form)
  • Teimoso (stubborn)
  • Teiú (tegu lizard)
  • Tempestade (storm)
  • Terra (earth)
  • Tesoura (scissors, also a takedown)
  • Tico-Tico (rufous-collared sparrow)
  • Tigrão (big tiger)
  • Tigre (tiger)
  • Tigresa (tigress)
  • Tímido (shy)

T, continued

  • Tique-Taque (tick-tock)
  • Tira-Teima (the decider that settles a doubt)
  • Tombo (tumble)
  • Topete (quiff)
  • Toque (a berimbau rhythm)
  • Tornado (tornado)
  • Toró (cloudburst)
  • Tourinho (young bull, fondly)
  • Touro (bull)
  • Trança (braid)
  • Tranquilo (easygoing)
  • Traquinas (prankster)
  • Trevo (clover)
  • Triângulo (triangle)

T, continued

  • Trilha (trail)
  • Tropeço (stumble)
  • Tropeiro (drover)
  • Trovador (troubadour)
  • Trovão (thunder)
  • Trovãozinho (little thunder)
  • Trovoada (thunderstorm)
  • Tubarão (shark)
  • Tubarão-Martelo (hammerhead shark)
  • Tucano (toucan)
  • Tucunaré (peacock bass)
  • Tudo Azul (all is well, literally all blue)
  • Tuiuiú (jabiru stork)
  • Turrão (headstrong)

U: 8 names

  • Uirapuru (musician wren)
  • Umbu (umbu, a sour fruit of the sertão)
  • Ursa (she-bear)
  • Ursinho (teddy bear)
  • Urso (bear)
  • Urtiga (nettle)
  • Urucum (annatto, the red seed)
  • Uva (grape)

V: 32 names

  • Vadiação (an old word for playing capoeira)
  • Vaga-Lume (firefly)
  • Vai e Vem (back and forth)
  • Vai na Fé (go in faith)
  • Vaidoso (vain)
  • Valente (brave)
  • Vapt-Vupt (done in a flash)
  • Vaqueira (cowgirl)
  • Vaqueiro (cowhand)
  • Vatapá (creamy shrimp and bread stew)

V, continued

  • Velho Chico (Old Chico, the São Francisco River)
  • Veloz (swift)
  • Vendaval (gale)
  • Ventania (high wind)
  • Vento (wind)
  • Vento Forte (strong wind)
  • Vento Sul (south wind)
  • Verão (summer)
  • Vespa (wasp)
  • Veterano (veteran)
  • Viajante (traveler)

V, continued

  • Vingativa (a takedown, literally the vengeful one)
  • Vintém (old copper coin)
  • Viola (the high berimbau, also a country guitar)
  • Violão (guitar)
  • Violeiro (player of the country guitar)
  • Violeta (violet)
  • Vitória-Régia (giant water lily of the Amazon)
  • Voador (flyer)
  • Volta ao Mundo (the walk around the circle)
  • Vozeirão (booming voice)
  • Vulcão (volcano)

W: 1 name

  • Waldemar (name of the late Mestre Waldemar)

X: 3 names

  • Xerife (sheriff)
  • Xique-Xique (spiny cactus of the caatinga)
  • Xote (a slow forró rhythm)

Z: 5 names

  • Zabumba (bass drum of forró)
  • Zangado (grumpy)
  • Zás-Trás (in a snap)
  • Zigue-Zague (zigzag)
  • Zum-Zum-Zum (buzz, as in a well-known roda song)