Capoeira student resources
Keep learning beyond the roda.
Find guides, songs, music resources, and Portuguese terminology to support your practice between classes.
Your Capoeira resource library.
PDF · 2010 archive
Student Guide
Open resource →Training guide · PDF
Sequências de Malandros
Open resource →Music & singing
Songbook
Open resource →Instrument study
Basic Berimbau
Open resource →Cultural resources
Candomblé & Orishas
Open resource →Growth & responsibility
Cordão system
Open resource →Some documents are historical resources. Follow your teacher’s current guidance for classes, policies, and training.
Vocabulary & original study materials
Capoeira Terminology – Words & Commands
- Abada – Pants or a Capoeira group.
- Academia – A place of training like a hall, gym, school or academy.
- Aluno – Someone learning Capoeira / A pupil or student.
- Angola – A style of Capoeira brought into the mainstream by Mestre Pastinha.
- Angoleiro – Some who practices the Angola style of Capoeira.
- Apanhar – When someone is defeated.
- Apelido – A person’s nickname.
- Arame – This is the Steel String part of the Berimbau.
- Armada – A spinning kick used in Capoeira.
- Arrastao – A take-down used in Capoeira.
- Atabaque – Musical drum people use when they have made a circle around the Capoeiristas.
- Au – Simply a cartwheel.
- Aula – A class or lesson.
- Aviso – The rhythmic music coming from the Berimbau. Dictates the tempo of the game.
- Axe – Capoeira spirit or energy.
- Bahia – One of the 26 states of Brazil (on the east coast of Brazil).
- Bamba – A master or expert at Capoeira.
- Banda – A standing sweep kick where you use your heel.
- Baqueta – The wooden sticks used to play the Berimbau.
- Base – Another word for the Ginga.
- Bater – To defeat.
- Batizao – The Portuguese word for baptism. This is an initiation event for new Capoeiristas.
- Bencao – A strong straight kick.
- Beriba – This is the wood people use to make a Berimbau.
- Berimbau – The main musical instrument used in Capoeira.
- Besouro – Famous Capoeirista. They made a movie about him.
- Bimba – The legendary Mestre Bimba.
- Brincar – Capoeira for children.
- Cabecada – A headbutt used in Capoeira.
- Capoeirista – Someone who does Capoeira.
- Cavalaria – This was a warning noise made by players of the Berimbau to warn of a police raid.
- Caxixi – A rattling instrument that looks like a basket. Played along with the Berimbau.
- Chula – A Capoeira chant.
- Chutar – Kick someone.
- Cintura Desprexada – A exercise Capoeiristas use to help them land on there feet.
- Cocorinha – A defensive squatting position that is used to avoid kicks.
- Comprar – Enter a circle by cutting in on someone.
- Contragolpe – A counter attack move used in Capoeira.
- Contramestre – This is the level below becoming a Mestre.
- Corda – This is the name of the colored belts used in the grading system.
- Corridos – Songs when action is happening in the circle.
- Costas – A move where you show your back.
- Defesa – A defensive maneuver used in Capoeira.
- Desequillibrante – A maneuver that unbalances your opponent.
- Discipulo – This is a disciple of a Capoeira Mestre.
- Dobrao – An old coin that used to be used to play the Berimbau.
- E – Is.
- Ele – He.
- Entrar – When someone enters the Roda.
- Esquiva – A defensive movement.
- Eu – I.
- Faca – A knife.
- Fazer – To make.
- Fechado – To be shut/closed.
- Fechar – To close.
- Ficar – To stay.
- Floreios – A very acrobatic Capoeira maneuver.
- Folha Seca – These are a type of dry leaves.
- Fome – To be hungry.
- Forca – Strength.
- Formatura – An event for when someone becomes a Mestre.
- Forte – Strong.
- Frente – Front.
- Frio – Cold.
- Fundamentos – Used to explain Capoeiras beginnings.
- Galo – A rooster.
- Ginga – The continuous left to right movement. This is the starting point of all moves.
- Golpe – An attack move.
- Gunga – A larger Berimbau.
- Iuna – Slow elegant music played by students.
- Ladainha – It means litany and it is sang by a leader before the game starts.
- Lutar – Fighting.
- Macaco – A Capoeira move.
- Macaquinho – Another Capoeira move.
- Malandragem – Cunning or shifty.
- Malandro – Someone who is streetwise.
- Malicia – Deceptive.
- Mandigueiro – A healer.
- Martelo – A very strong kick.
- Meia Lua De Compasso – A quick spinning kick.
- Meia Lua De Frente – A front facing spinning kick.
- Mestre – The highest level a Capoeirist can reach.
- Moeda – A coin.
- Morena – A tanned skinned lady.
- Morrer – Death.
- Mortal – An acrobatic move.
- Navalha – A large razor used for shaving or cutting hair.
- Negativa – A low guarding move that you outstretch your leg with.
- Onca – A Jaquar.
- Pandeiro – A drum that is famous in Brazil.
- Parafuso – A fast spin kick which the person jumps into the air when doing it.
- Passada – Means your foot work whilst doing Capoeira.
- Pastinha – Another famous Capoeirist. Mestre Pastinha.
- Pe – Your foot.
- Pe Do Berimbau – The front of the Berimbau.
- Peixe – A fish.
- Pesado – Heavy.
- Piao – Headspin.
- Piao De Mao – A spin where the Capoeirist only uses one arm to balance on.
- Pisao – A long straight kick in Capoeira.
- Pisar – A step.
- Pontiera – A powerful straight kick.
- Puxar – Pull.
- Quadras – A form of song which is more prominent in Capoeira Regional.
- Quando – When.
- Que – What.
- Queda – To stumble.
- Queda De Rins – A Capoeira move where you put your face and hands on the ground to balance your body.
- Quexada – A backward spinning kick.
- Quilombo – The name given to fugitive slave communities.
- Rabo De Arraia – A double step to the side into a spinning kick.
- Rasteira – A low spinning sweep move.
- Rasteria PM E – Same as the Rasteria move but without using hands.
- Reco – A tool used to scrape bamboo.
- Regional – The version of Capoeira created by Mestre Bimba.
- Relogio – It means to spin on one hand.
- Roda – This is the circle of people that form around the Capoeirists when the game is played.
- Role – A low spin where you put your hands and feet on the ground during.
- S Dobrado – A low sweep that flows into the player doing a back flip whilst using there hands.
- Sabedoria – To have knowledge.
- Saida – To exit.
- Salvador – This is a city in Bahia, Brazil.
- Samba – Famous Brazilian dance.
- Santo – A saint.
- Senzala – Name of a Capoeira group.
- Sinal – A sign.
- Ter – Have.
- Terra – Land.
- Tesoura – This is a scissor sweep that you use both legs with.
- Tocar – Playing music.
- Vadiar – Up to no good.
- Verga – The main wooden part of the Berimbau. Usually made of Biriba wood.
- Viola – A very high pitched Berimbau.
- Volta Ao Munto – It means around the world and it is when the players circle each other to get a break.
- Zumbi – Well known leader of the Brazilian Slave settlement, the Quilombos.
MOVEMENTS
amazonas (au batido): one hand cartwheel kick; trademark capoeira move
armada: basic upright spin kick
arrastao – capoeira takedown, pulling both legs from under an opponent
aú: capoeira style cartwheel
bananeira: handstand or headstand
banda: movement to trip or flank an opponent
bencao: “blessing”; a front kick
cabeçada: headbutt
chamada: literally to call; ritualized movement across roda (mainly used in Angola)
chapa/pisao: flat footed kick to the side
comprar de jogo – to buy a game, entering the circle by cutting in on another player
entrar: to enter
esquiva: escape movement
floreios – acrobatic movements
ginga: basic movement of capoeira
jogar: to play
passape: outside to inside crescent kick
negativa: literally “negative”; basic defense
macaco: “monkey flip”; a low back handspring
meia lua de compasso: low spining kick with hands on the ground
mortal: backflip
piao de cabesa (de mao): spin on the head (spin on the hands)
pontape cruzado/martelo: “roundhouse kick”; strike with the top of foot
queixada: circular kick; strike with the outside of the foot
rasteira: a sweeping trip; trademark capoeira move
role: “roll”; basic defense
tesoura: “scissors”; a takedown
volta ao mundo: “around the world”; circling the roda
GENERAL VOCABULARY
Angola: traditional capoeira; usually played slow and close to the ground
angoleiro: a practitioner of the capoeira angola style
atabaque: a drum
ataque – attacking move or movement initiative
axe: life force; energy of capeira
batizado – the capoeira initiation ceremony; baptism
beriba: wood for making berimbau
berimbau: one-stringed precussion instrument
Besouro: a famous capoeirista who had legendary mandinga, a beetle
Bimba: a famous deceased capoeira mestre; father of capoeira regional
cabaça: gourd resonator of the berimbau
capoeirista: one who plays capoeira
camará: comrade
caxixí: shaker played with the berimbau
corda: “cord”; capoeira belt used to show advancement
corridos: call and response songs accompanying action in the circle
costas: back (anatomy)
defesa: defensive movement
dobrao: coin used to play the berimbau
esquiva: escape movement [basic movement]
fechado: to be closed
fechar: to close
frente: front
gunga: bass berimbau
hora: hour; time
jogador – player
jogo: game; a game of capoeira; the verb is jogar
ladainha: introductory solo of roda or game, usually sung by a mestre
maculêlê: stick fighting dance
malandragem: double-dealing or cunning
malandro: crook or streetwise person
malícia: deception, trickery, double-dealing
mandigueiro: a tricky capoeira player
mangangá: sorcerer, healer in the Afro-Brazilian tradition
mar: ocean
medio: middle pitched berimbau
mestre: master, senior capoeira teacher
moleque: street urchin; punk
nome de guerra – nickname given to a player in the course of his training, sometimes as part of a batizado initiation
pandeiro: a tambourine
Pastinha: famous deceased teacher of Capoeira Angola from Bahia
patuá: amulet worn around the neck for protection
pé do berimbau: position in front of the berimbau
reco-reco: ribbed bamboo scraper
Regional – innovative, modern style of capoeira, associated with Mestre Bimba
roda: circle; circle made of people where capoeira is played
Salvador: capital city of Bahia; birthplace of Capoeira as we know it today
samba: brazilian rhythm and dance
sequencia – sequence of moves learned by players in Regional style
solta: no hands; a jump (au solta)
tocar: to touch; to play music
vadicao: loafing, hanging around; synonym for capoeira
vaqueta: stick used to strike the string of the berimbau
viola: the highest pitched berimbau
So, the only word you know in Portuguese is “capoeira’?
Don’t worry – this basic lesson will teach you how to say yes, no, please, thank you, and other basics of Brazilian Portuguese.
VOCABULÁRIO (VOCABULARY)
| Oi | Hi |
| Tchau | Bye |
| Sim | Yes |
| Não | No |
| Por favor | Please |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Desculpe | Sorry |
| Licença | Excuse me |
Obrigado vs. obrigada
You say obrigado if you are a man, and obrigada if you are a woman.
It’s your gender that determines this… not the gender of the person you are talking to!
Desculpe vs. licença
You say desculpe if you’re apologizing for something.
You say licença if you’re “asking permission” – breaking into a conversation, or trying to get past people on a crowded bus, etc.
YOU AND ME
Finally, we’ll learn one of the first building blocks you’ll need to begin speaking Portuguese: pronouns – words like I, you, he, she, we, and they.
| Singular | Singular | Plural | Plural |
| Eu | I | Nós | We |
| Você | You | Vocês | You all |
| Ele | He | Eles | They (masculine/mixed) |
| Ela | She | Elas | They (feminine) |
Let’s look at a few examples from capoeira songs:
- Eu quero ver você jogar, paraná = I want to see you play, paraná.
- Dona Maria do Camboatá, ela chega na venda e manda botar = Dona Maria do Camboatá, she arrives at the market and orders people around
- Olha o nego sinhá, ele é mandingueiro = Look at the black guy, lady, he is tricky.
- Que bom / estar com vocês / aqui nesta roda / com este conjunto = It’s good / to be with you all / here in this roda / with this group
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
VOCABULÁRIO
| Pé | Foot |
| Mão | Hand |
| Braço | Arm |
| Perna | Leg |
| Cabeça | Head |
| Pescoço | Neck |
| Ombro | Shoulder |
| Joelho | Knee |
| Dedo | Finger |
| Rosto | Face |
| Estômago | Stomach |
| Barriga | Belly |
| Peito | Chest |
| Costas | Back |
| Esquerdo / Esquerda | Left |
| Direito / Direita | Right |
| Dobrar | Bend |
| Esticar | Stretch / extend |
MY / YOUR / HIS / HER
Okay, now we know the parts of the body… but how do we say “my leg” or “your arm”?
| meu | My (if the word is masculine) |
| minha | My (if the word is feminine) |
| seu | Your (if the word is masculine) |
| sua | Your (if the word is feminine) |
| dele | His |
| dela | Her |
You use meu or minha based on if the word for the body part is masculine or feminine (NOT depending on whether you are male or female!) For example:
Meu braço = my arm (braço is a masculine word)
Minha barriga = my belly (barriga is a feminine word)
Can you label each body part in the vocabulary list as masculine or feminine?
If you want to talk about a body part in the plural, just add “s” to both the word and the possessive:
Seus dedos = your fingers
Suas pernas = your legs
Finally, if you want to talk about someone else’s arms/legs/whatever, use dele (if the peson is male) and dela (if the person is female):
O rosto dele = His face
O pé dela = Her foot
Note that in this case dele and dela come after the noun!
Talking about injuries
If a visiting mestre wants you to do queda de rins but you’re recovering from a shoulder dislocation, what do you say?
Here are a couple useful phrases:
…está machucado/machucada = …is injured
…está doendo = …hurts
So in this case, you could say Meu ombro está machucado.
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
VOCABULÁRIO (VOCABULARY)
| Zero | 0 | Seis / Meia | 6 |
| Um / Uma | 1 | Sete | 7 |
| Dois / Duas | 2 | Oito | 8 |
| Três | 3 | Nove | 9 |
| Quatro | 4 | Dez | 10 |
| Cinco | 5 | Número de telefone /celular | Phone / cell phone number |
GRAMÁTICA (GRAMMAR)
Numbers in Portuguese are pretty straightforward. The only slightly tricky part is that the numbers “one” and “two” change depending on the gender of the object – in Portuguese, objects as well as people have gender. You’ll learn more about this in a future lesson.
Um menino = One boy (a boy)
Uma menina = One girl (a girl)
Dois apartamentos = Two apartments
Duas casas = Two houses
NÚMEROS DE TELEFONE (PHONE NUMBERS)
To ask for someone’s phone number, say “Qual é seu número de telefone?”
To respond, you say “Meu número é…”
Now, when giving a phone number, we say meia instead of seis:
555-6862
Cinco-cinco-cinco, meia oito meia dois.
Some people will “combine” the digits into larger numbers (five-five-five-eighteen-thirty-four):
555-1834
Cinco-cinco-cinco, dezoito trinta-e-quatro
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
- Capoeira Terminology – Words & Commands
-
Capoeira Terminology – Words & Commands
- Abada – Pants or a Capoeira group.
- Academia – A place of training like a hall, gym, school or academy.
- Aluno – Someone learning Capoeira / A pupil or student.
- Angola – A style of Capoeira brought into the mainstream by Mestre Pastinha.
- Angoleiro – Some who practices the Angola style of Capoeira.
- Apanhar – When someone is defeated.
- Apelido – A person’s nickname.
- Arame – This is the Steel String part of the Berimbau.
- Armada – A spinning kick used in Capoeira.
- Arrastao – A take-down used in Capoeira.
- Atabaque – Musical drum people use when they have made a circle around the Capoeiristas.
- Au – Simply a cartwheel.
- Aula – A class or lesson.
- Aviso – The rhythmic music coming from the Berimbau. Dictates the tempo of the game.
- Axe – Capoeira spirit or energy.
- Bahia – One of the 26 states of Brazil (on the east coast of Brazil).
- Bamba – A master or expert at Capoeira.
- Banda – A standing sweep kick where you use your heel.
- Baqueta – The wooden sticks used to play the Berimbau.
- Base – Another word for the Ginga.
- Bater – To defeat.
- Batizao – The Portuguese word for baptism. This is an initiation event for new Capoeiristas.
- Bencao – A strong straight kick.
- Beriba – This is the wood people use to make a Berimbau.
- Berimbau – The main musical instrument used in Capoeira.
- Besouro – Famous Capoeirista. They made a movie about him.
- Bimba – The legendary Mestre Bimba.
- Brincar – Capoeira for children.
- Cabecada – A headbutt used in Capoeira.
- Capoeirista – Someone who does Capoeira.
- Cavalaria – This was a warning noise made by players of the Berimbau to warn of a police raid.
- Caxixi – A rattling instrument that looks like a basket. Played along with the Berimbau.
- Chula – A Capoeira chant.
- Chutar – Kick someone.
- Cintura Desprexada – A exercise Capoeiristas use to help them land on there feet.
- Cocorinha – A defensive squatting position that is used to avoid kicks.
- Comprar – Enter a circle by cutting in on someone.
- Contragolpe – A counter attack move used in Capoeira.
- Contramestre – This is the level below becoming a Mestre.
- Corda – This is the name of the colored belts used in the grading system.
- Corridos – Songs when action is happening in the circle.
- Costas – A move where you show your back.
- Defesa – A defensive maneuver used in Capoeira.
- Desequillibrante – A maneuver that unbalances your opponent.
- Discipulo – This is a disciple of a Capoeira Mestre.
- Dobrao – An old coin that used to be used to play the Berimbau.
- E – Is.
- Ele – He.
- Entrar – When someone enters the Roda.
- Esquiva – A defensive movement.
- Eu – I.
- Faca – A knife.
- Fazer – To make.
- Fechado – To be shut/closed.
- Fechar – To close.
- Ficar – To stay.
- Floreios – A very acrobatic Capoeira maneuver.
- Folha Seca – These are a type of dry leaves.
- Fome – To be hungry.
- Forca – Strength.
- Formatura – An event for when someone becomes a Mestre.
- Forte – Strong.
- Frente – Front.
- Frio – Cold.
- Fundamentos – Used to explain Capoeiras beginnings.
- Galo – A rooster.
- Ginga – The continuous left to right movement. This is the starting point of all moves.
- Golpe – An attack move.
- Gunga – A larger Berimbau.
- Iuna – Slow elegant music played by students.
- Ladainha – It means litany and it is sang by a leader before the game starts.
- Lutar – Fighting.
- Macaco – A Capoeira move.
- Macaquinho – Another Capoeira move.
- Malandragem – Cunning or shifty.
- Malandro – Someone who is streetwise.
- Malicia – Deceptive.
- Mandigueiro – A healer.
- Martelo – A very strong kick.
- Meia Lua De Compasso – A quick spinning kick.
- Meia Lua De Frente – A front facing spinning kick.
- Mestre – The highest level a Capoeirist can reach.
- Moeda – A coin.
- Morena – A tanned skinned lady.
- Morrer – Death.
- Mortal – An acrobatic move.
- Navalha – A large razor used for shaving or cutting hair.
- Negativa – A low guarding move that you outstretch your leg with.
- Onca – A Jaquar.
- Pandeiro – A drum that is famous in Brazil.
- Parafuso – A fast spin kick which the person jumps into the air when doing it.
- Passada – Means your foot work whilst doing Capoeira.
- Pastinha – Another famous Capoeirist. Mestre Pastinha.
- Pe – Your foot.
- Pe Do Berimbau – The front of the Berimbau.
- Peixe – A fish.
- Pesado – Heavy.
- Piao – Headspin.
- Piao De Mao – A spin where the Capoeirist only uses one arm to balance on.
- Pisao – A long straight kick in Capoeira.
- Pisar – A step.
- Pontiera – A powerful straight kick.
- Puxar – Pull.
- Quadras – A form of song which is more prominent in Capoeira Regional.
- Quando – When.
- Que – What.
- Queda – To stumble.
- Queda De Rins – A Capoeira move where you put your face and hands on the ground to balance your body.
- Quexada – A backward spinning kick.
- Quilombo – The name given to fugitive slave communities.
- Rabo De Arraia – A double step to the side into a spinning kick.
- Rasteira – A low spinning sweep move.
- Rasteria PM E – Same as the Rasteria move but without using hands.
- Reco – A tool used to scrape bamboo.
- Regional – The version of Capoeira created by Mestre Bimba.
- Relogio – It means to spin on one hand.
- Roda – This is the circle of people that form around the Capoeirists when the game is played.
- Role – A low spin where you put your hands and feet on the ground during.
- S Dobrado – A low sweep that flows into the player doing a back flip whilst using there hands.
- Sabedoria – To have knowledge.
- Saida – To exit.
- Salvador – This is a city in Bahia, Brazil.
- Samba – Famous Brazilian dance.
- Santo – A saint.
- Senzala – Name of a Capoeira group.
- Sinal – A sign.
- Ter – Have.
- Terra – Land.
- Tesoura – This is a scissor sweep that you use both legs with.
- Tocar – Playing music.
- Vadiar – Up to no good.
- Verga – The main wooden part of the Berimbau. Usually made of Biriba wood.
- Viola – A very high pitched Berimbau.
- Volta Ao Munto – It means around the world and it is when the players circle each other to get a break.
- Zumbi – Well known leader of the Brazilian Slave settlement, the Quilombos.
- Capoeira Terms
-
MOVEMENTS
amazonas (au batido): one hand cartwheel kick; trademark capoeira move
armada: basic upright spin kick
arrastao – capoeira takedown, pulling both legs from under an opponent
aú: capoeira style cartwheel
bananeira: handstand or headstand
banda: movement to trip or flank an opponent
bencao: “blessing”; a front kick
cabeçada: headbutt
chamada: literally to call; ritualized movement across roda (mainly used in Angola)
chapa/pisao: flat footed kick to the side
comprar de jogo – to buy a game, entering the circle by cutting in on another player
entrar: to enter
esquiva: escape movement
floreios – acrobatic movements
ginga: basic movement of capoeira
jogar: to play
passape: outside to inside crescent kick
negativa: literally “negative”; basic defense
macaco: “monkey flip”; a low back handspring
meia lua de compasso: low spining kick with hands on the ground
mortal: backflip
piao de cabesa (de mao): spin on the head (spin on the hands)
pontape cruzado/martelo: “roundhouse kick”; strike with the top of foot
queixada: circular kick; strike with the outside of the foot
rasteira: a sweeping trip; trademark capoeira move
role: “roll”; basic defense
tesoura: “scissors”; a takedown
volta ao mundo: “around the world”; circling the roda
GENERAL VOCABULARY
Angola: traditional capoeira; usually played slow and close to the ground
angoleiro: a practitioner of the capoeira angola style
atabaque: a drum
ataque – attacking move or movement initiative
axe: life force; energy of capeira
batizado – the capoeira initiation ceremony; baptism
beriba: wood for making berimbau
berimbau: one-stringed precussion instrument
Besouro: a famous capoeirista who had legendary mandinga, a beetle
Bimba: a famous deceased capoeira mestre; father of capoeira regional
cabaça: gourd resonator of the berimbau
capoeirista: one who plays capoeira
camará: comrade
caxixí: shaker played with the berimbau
corda: “cord”; capoeira belt used to show advancement
corridos: call and response songs accompanying action in the circle
costas: back (anatomy)
defesa: defensive movement
dobrao: coin used to play the berimbau
esquiva: escape movement [basic movement]
fechado: to be closed
fechar: to close
frente: front
gunga: bass berimbau
hora: hour; time
jogador – player
jogo: game; a game of capoeira; the verb is jogar
ladainha: introductory solo of roda or game, usually sung by a mestre
maculêlê: stick fighting dance
malandragem: double-dealing or cunning
malandro: crook or streetwise person
malícia: deception, trickery, double-dealing
mandigueiro: a tricky capoeira player
mangangá: sorcerer, healer in the Afro-Brazilian tradition
mar: ocean
medio: middle pitched berimbau
mestre: master, senior capoeira teacher
moleque: street urchin; punk
nome de guerra – nickname given to a player in the course of his training, sometimes as part of a batizado initiation
pandeiro: a tambourine
Pastinha: famous deceased teacher of Capoeira Angola from Bahia
patuá: amulet worn around the neck for protection
pé do berimbau: position in front of the berimbau
reco-reco: ribbed bamboo scraper
Regional – innovative, modern style of capoeira, associated with Mestre Bimba
roda: circle; circle made of people where capoeira is played
Salvador: capital city of Bahia; birthplace of Capoeira as we know it today
samba: brazilian rhythm and dance
sequencia – sequence of moves learned by players in Regional style
solta: no hands; a jump (au solta)
tocar: to touch; to play music
vadicao: loafing, hanging around; synonym for capoeira
vaqueta: stick used to strike the string of the berimbau
viola: the highest pitched berimbau
- Brazilian Portuguese Basics
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So, the only word you know in Portuguese is “capoeira’?
Don’t worry – this basic lesson will teach you how to say yes, no, please, thank you, and other basics of Brazilian Portuguese.
VOCABULÁRIO (VOCABULARY)
Oi Hi Tchau Bye Sim Yes Não No Por favor Please Obrigado / Obrigada Thank you De nada You’re welcome Desculpe Sorry Licença Excuse me Obrigado vs. obrigada
You say obrigado if you are a man, and obrigada if you are a woman.
It’s your gender that determines this… not the gender of the person you are talking to!
Desculpe vs. licença
You say desculpe if you’re apologizing for something.
You say licença if you’re “asking permission” – breaking into a conversation, or trying to get past people on a crowded bus, etc.
YOU AND ME
Finally, we’ll learn one of the first building blocks you’ll need to begin speaking Portuguese: pronouns – words like I, you, he, she, we, and they.
Singular Singular Plural Plural Eu I Nós We Você You Vocês You all Ele He Eles They (masculine/mixed) Ela She Elas They (feminine) Let’s look at a few examples from capoeira songs:
- Eu quero ver você jogar, paraná = I want to see you play, paraná.
- Dona Maria do Camboatá, ela chega na venda e manda botar = Dona Maria do Camboatá, she arrives at the market and orders people around
- Olha o nego sinhá, ele é mandingueiro = Look at the black guy, lady, he is tricky.
- Que bom / estar com vocês / aqui nesta roda / com este conjunto = It’s good / to be with you all / here in this roda / with this group
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
3 - Parts of the Body
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VOCABULÁRIO
Pé Foot Mão Hand Braço Arm Perna Leg Cabeça Head Pescoço Neck Ombro Shoulder Joelho Knee Dedo Finger Rosto Face Estômago Stomach Barriga Belly Peito Chest Costas Back Esquerdo / Esquerda Left Direito / Direita Right Dobrar Bend Esticar Stretch / extend
MY / YOUR / HIS / HER
Okay, now we know the parts of the body… but how do we say “my leg” or “your arm”?
meu My (if the word is masculine) minha My (if the word is feminine) seu Your (if the word is masculine) sua Your (if the word is feminine) dele His dela Her You use meu or minha based on if the word for the body part is masculine or feminine (NOT depending on whether you are male or female!) For example:
Meu braço = my arm (braço is a masculine word)
Minha barriga = my belly (barriga is a feminine word)
Can you label each body part in the vocabulary list as masculine or feminine?
If you want to talk about a body part in the plural, just add “s” to both the word and the possessive:
Seus dedos = your fingers
Suas pernas = your legs
Finally, if you want to talk about someone else’s arms/legs/whatever, use dele (if the peson is male) and dela (if the person is female):
O rosto dele = His face
O pé dela = Her foot
Note that in this case dele and dela come after the noun!
Talking about injuries
If a visiting mestre wants you to do queda de rins but you’re recovering from a shoulder dislocation, what do you say?
Here are a couple useful phrases:
…está machucado/machucada = …is injured
…está doendo = …hurts
So in this case, you could say Meu ombro está machucado.
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
0 - Numbers
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VOCABULÁRIO (VOCABULARY)
Zero 0 Seis / Meia 6 Um / Uma 1 Sete 7 Dois / Duas 2 Oito 8 Três 3 Nove 9 Quatro 4 Dez 10 Cinco 5 Número de telefone /celular Phone / cell phone number
GRAMÁTICA (GRAMMAR)
Numbers in Portuguese are pretty straightforward. The only slightly tricky part is that the numbers “one” and “two” change depending on the gender of the object – in Portuguese, objects as well as people have gender. You’ll learn more about this in a future lesson.
Um menino = One boy (a boy)
Uma menina = One girl (a girl)
Dois apartamentos = Two apartments
Duas casas = Two houses
NÚMEROS DE TELEFONE (PHONE NUMBERS)
To ask for someone’s phone number, say “Qual é seu número de telefone?”
To respond, you say “Meu número é…”
Now, when giving a phone number, we say meia instead of seis:
555-6862
Cinco-cinco-cinco, meia oito meia dois.
Some people will “combine” the digits into larger numbers (five-five-five-eighteen-thirty-four):
555-1834
Cinco-cinco-cinco, dezoito trinta-e-quatro
PRATICAR (PRACTICE)
Você sabe as palavras básicas de português Faça a prova!
Do you know the basic words of Portuguese? Take the quiz!
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