Welcome to our Capoeira glossary!

Here, you'll find detailed explanations of terms used in Capoeira, from instruments and movements to cultural references. Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced practitioner, this glossary will help you understand the rich vocabulary of Capoeira.

Basic Terms

A

  • Abada: Capoeira pants.

  • Academia: Capoeira school or venue.

  • Agogo: A two-tone bell instrument used in Capoeira music.

  • Aluno: Student.

  • Angoleiro: A person who practices the Angola style of Capoeira.

  • Apellido: A nickname given to students by their mentor, originally used for anonymity, during a batizado. In the past, Capoeiristas used apellidos to remain unknown when police searched for them, making it harder for authorities to track down individuals.

  • Arame: Wire used as the single string on the berimbau.

  • Atabaque: Brazilian drum used in Capoeira.

  • Au: Cartwheel.

  • Axé: Good energy, Life force.

B

  • Bater: To beat.

  • Batizado: Initiation ceremony of Capoeira, literally meaning baptism.

  • Batuque: A music and African game that was once popular in Brazil. Players stand in a circle; one player stands in the centre in a defensive position, and another moves around him, suddenly attacking. The attacking player tries to throw the defending player to the ground with blows from his legs. Mestre Bimba’s father was a champion Batuque player.

  • Baqueta: Stick used for playing the berimbau, by striking the arame. Also used for Batucada and sometimes to describe a Maculele stick (Grima).

  • Bateria: A line of instruments in a Capoeira roda or a Batucada group.

  • Batucada: World-famous Brazilian drumming with percussionists playing rhythms using three kinds of drums (Repinique, Surdo, and Caixa), cowbells, and shakers.

  • Beriba: The most common type of wood used to make a Berimbau.

  • Berimbau: Lead instrument in Capoeira made of bowed wood, a wire as the single string, and a gourd as a resonator.

C

  • Cabaça: The gourd on a berimbau used as the instrument’s resonating box.

  • Capoeira Angola: Traditional style of Capoeira, sometimes lower to the ground and usually played slower.

  • Capoeira Regional: Style of Capoeira associated with Mestre Bimba, faster and more upright.

  • Corpo fechado: When a Candomble ritual is performed to protect the subject from harm magically, they are said to have corpo fechado (closed body).

  • Cintura desprezada: A sequence created by Mestre Bimba full of throws and flips. Its practice is intended to acclimate the practitioner to falling, landing, and throwing.

  • Corridos: Songs with a call and response.

  • Fundamentos: Fundamentals.

G

  • Gunga: Berimbau, with the largest cabaça, makes the deepest pitch and controls the base rhythm and tempo. It is usually played by the most senior-ranked capoeiristas present.

J

  • Jogo: Game.

M

  • Martello: It means hammer. It's a well-known Capoeira sidekick.

Q

  • Quilombo: Villages built deep in the forests by escaped African people, away from Portuguese oppression.

R

  • Roda: Circle of people in which Capoeira is played.

S

  • Salve: In Capoeira, "Salve" is a traditional greeting and expression of respect. It translates to "hail" or "greetings" in English and is often used at the beginning or end of a roda (Capoeira circle) or when acknowledging fellow capoeiristas. It's a way to show honour, respect and camaraderie within the Capoeira community.

  • Saida pro jogo: When we start playing capoeira at the roda with another person starting from under the berimbau towards the middle of the circle.

  • Santo: Saint.

  • Samba: A popular Brazilian dance and rhythm.

  • São: Saint (possessive).

  • Sem: Without.

T

  • Tocar: To touch, to play an instrument.

  • Toque: Rhythm.

V

  • Verga: The bowed beriba wood of the Berimbau.

  • Viola: A berimbau with a small cabaça; it creates a higher pitch.

  • Volta Ao Mundo: Literally "Around the world"; refers to the roda's circling by both players inside the roda. Usually done when a player or players are tired or to "start over" or "change the conversation." This is done counterclockwise.

Z

  • Zumbi: Legend states that Zumbi was the greatest leader of the most famous Quilombo in Brazil’s history. Often referred to as King Zumbi.



Numbers in Portuguese (1-20)

1. Um (OOM)

2. Dois (DOIS)

3. Três (TREHS)

4. Quatro (KWAH-troh)

5. Cinco (SEEN-koh)

6. Seis (SAYS)

7. Sete (SEH-chee)

8. Oito (OY-toh)

9. Nove (NOH-veh)

10. Dez (DEHS)

11. Onze (ON-zee)

12. Doze (DOH-zee)

13. Treze (TREH-zee)

14. Quatorze (kah-TOHR-zee)

15. Quinze (KEEN-zee)

16. Dezesseis (deh-zee-SAYS)

17. Dezessete (deh-zee-SEH-chee)

18. Dezoito (deh-ZOY-toh)

19. Dezenove (deh-zeh-NOH-vee)

20. Vinte (VEEN-chee)


Colors in Portuguese

- Red: Vermelho (vehr-MEHL-yoh)

- Blue: Azul (ah-ZOOL)

- Green: Verde (VEHR-jee)

- Yellow: Amarelo (ah-mah-REH-loh)

- White: Branco (BRAN-koh)

- Black: Preto (PREH-toh)

- Orange: Laranja (lah-RAHN-jah)

- Purple: Roxo (HOH-shoo)

- Pink: Rosa (HOH-zah)

- Brown: Marrom (mah-HOHN)



Basic Words and Phrases

- Hello: Olá (oh-LAH)

- Goodbye: Adeus (ah-DAY-oos)

- Please: Por favor (pohr fah-VOHR)

- Thank you: Obrigado (oh-bree-GAH-doh)

- You're welcome: De nada (deh NAH-dah)

- Yes: Sim (SEEN)

- No: Não (NOW)

Body Parts in Portuguese

- Head: Cabeça (kah-BEH-sah)

- Arm: Braço (BRAH-soh)

- Leg: Perna (PEHR-nah)

- Foot: Pé (PEH)

- Hand: Mão (MAH-oh)

- Back: Costas (KOH-stas)

- Chest: Peito (PAY-toh)


Common Capoeira Movements

  • Ginga: The fundamental movement in Capoeira is a continuous swinging motion.

  • Negativa: A defensive movement where you crouch close to the ground.

  • Rasteira: A sweeping kick intended to trip the opponent.

  • Meia Lua de Frente: A half-moon kick executed from front to back.

  • Queixada: A kick where the leg sweeps in an arc from inside to outside.

  • Macaco: A movement resembling a back handspring.

  • Role: A rolling motion used to evade attacks and create movement flow.



General Capoeira Vocabulary

  • Mestre: Master; a teacher of Capoeira.

  • Professor: Teacher; a step below Mestre in the hierarchy.

  • Graduado: Graduated; a capoeirista who has earned a rank.

  • Capoeirista: A practitioner of Capoeira.

  • Bendito: Blessed.

  • Jogar: To play; to engage in the Capoeira game.

  • Quem não pode com mandinga não carrega patuá

    This popular Capoeira proverb says, "He who cannot handle trickery should not carry a talisman." It underscores the importance of understanding and being prepared for the cunning and strategic aspects of Capoeira. In essence, it means that one must be ready for the challenges and deceptive maneuvers inherent in the game.

  • Mandinga: A term referring to trickery, cunning, and the magical aspects of Capoeira. It’s about using strategy and deception in the game.

  • Maculelê: A traditional Afro-Brazilian dance that often accompanies Capoeira events. It involves the use of sticks or machetes.

  • Capoeirista: A practitioner of Capoeira.

    This glossary is designed to help you navigate the world of Capoeira. Whether you're learning the language or the art, understanding these terms will enhance your experience and appreciation of Capoeira.

    Enjoy your journey!

    Volta ao mundo