List of English words of Portuguese origin
This is a list of English words borrowed or derived from Portuguese:
- Albacore
- from albacor from Arabic al-bukr (="the young camels")
- Albino
- from albo (="white") from Latin albus
- Albatross
- an alteration of alcatraz, under influence of the Latin word albus ("white");
- Alcatraz
- (="gannet") from Arabic al-ġaţţās ("the diver")
- Auto-da-fé, a judicial ‘act’ or sentence of the Inquisition
- from auto da fé (="act/sentence of faith")
- Banana
- from Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banäna banana
- Baroque
- (= "unshapely pearl")
- 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").
- Caramel
- from caramelo
- Caravel
- from caravela
- Carioca
- from carioca
- carnauba
- from carnaúba
- Caste
- from casta
- cashew
- from caju (a tropical fruit)
- Cobra
- short for cobra de capelo (="hooded 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")
- 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 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
- Negro
- from negro (="black")
- 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
- 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
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
See also
- Lists of English words of international origin
- The category of words with Portuguese derivations at Wiktionary, Wikipedia's sister project