Chapter III: Introduction: To the Glossary of Brazilian German Terms

For reasons previously stated, the language or dialect of the German settlers in Brazil underwent an almost immediate change, not in its syntax, but in its vocabulary. Had the immigrants and their descendants only adopted such words as had no equivalent in their mother-tongue, our case would be much simpler. They went, however, much further, and, as a result even many of the commonest words dealing with the household or farm were replaced at an early date by Brazilian Portuguese terms, or by new formations based on them.

In the following representation of Brazilian German words and phrases an attempt has been made to select only such as have been adopted by German-speaking citizens in all parts of the country in question. In the few cases where words or phrases noted seem characteristic of any particular section of Brazil that fact is indicated. The glossary, moreover, makes no claim to completeness.

The sources[123] of the expressions listed are Brazilian German newspapers, books, almanacs, pamphlets, advertisements, "Festschriften," etc.,[124] as well as conversation with colonists. In the latter instance only such terms as were repeatedly used to the exclusion of the corresponding German terms were noted.[125]

In the glossary is given first the Brazilian German term (in certain cases with variations), followed, by way of comparison as well as definition, by the corresponding High German form. If the Brazilian Portuguese[126] equivalent differs in form or gender it is given in parentheses. If no such parenthetical form appears it signifies that both languages are in the particular instance identical.[127] The German element in mixed compounds being self-evident, such words are treated as the simple Brazilian German forms.

Gender is indicated except in the case of masculine nouns ending in _'-o'_ and feminines ending in _'-a.'_

Terms dealing with weights, measures and coinage have not been noted except in cases where the Brazilian German form shows a modification of the original and in instances where the terms refer to units no longer current.[128]

Special abbreviations:

R. = Rio de Janeiro.
R.G. = Rio Grande do Sul.

GLOSSARY.

=A.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

abacaxi _m._ ................. Ananas.
abatiment _m._ (abatimento) .. Preisermässigung,
abobora _or_ abobra .......... Kürbis.
abobora-mus _n._ ............. Kürbis-mus.
agrião ....................... Brunnenkresse. R.
aipim _m._ (aipim, aipii
_m._) ...................... Maniok (süsser).
aldeamento _m._ .............. Indianersiedlung. R.G.
aldeia (aldeia _or_ aldea) ... Dorf, Weiler.
alfandega .................... Zollamt, Steueramt.
algodão ...................... Baumwolle.
amolieren (amolar) ........... schleifen, schärfen.
aranha ....................... Gig (_vehicle_).
araruta ...................... Pfeilwurz.
armazem _m._ ................. Kaufladen.
arroba, arrobe _f._(arroba) .. 14.689 Kg. (_Weight._)
arroio ....................... Bach.
até a volta .................. bis zur Rückkehr!
ateloge _n._ ................. Aufwiedersehen.
(_From_ até logo. _Not used as
noun in Portuguese._)
até logo ..................... auf Wiedersehen!

=B.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

baio ......................... Pferd (castanienbraunes).
bakeljau _m._ (bacalhão) ..... Stockfisch, Kabeljau.
balse _f._ ................... Fäbre, Floss.
banhado ...................... Sumpf.
baradi _m.V._ cachaça ........
baranca ...................... Böschung, Uferböschung.
baranke _f.V._ baranca .......
barracão ..................... Baracke, Einwandererhaus.
barranke _f.V._ baranca ......
barre _f._ (barra) ........... Hafeneinfahrt.
barricaria ................... Böttcherei.
batata, batate, _f._ (batata) Kartoffel (brasilianische).
_(The term "batate" is at
times applied to the "Irish"
potato, altho the latter is
generally called "Kartoffel"
or "europäische Kartoffel.")_
batate doce _f._ (batata doce) Süsskartoffel.
becco ........................ Gässchen, kleine Gasse.
benzedor _m._ ................ Wunderdoktor.
benzedura .................... Besprechung der Krankheiten,
Beschwörung.
bicho ........................ Insekt, Tier.
biscouto ..................... Zwieback.
boa noite .................... gute Nacht! guten Abend!
boas tardes .................. guten Tag! guten Abend!
bohre _f. V._ abobora ........
bolacha ...................... Schiffszwieback.
bom .......................... gut!
bombilha ..................... Materörchen (i.e., Rörchen zum Mate-
trinken).
bombacha (bombachas _f.plu._) Pluderhose. R.G.
bom dia ...................... guten Tag!
bond _m._ (bonde _m._) ....... Tram, Strassenbahnwagen.
botina ....................... Halbstiefel.
brasse _f._ (braça) .......... 2.20 M. _(Measure of length.)_
buger _m._ (bugre _m._) ...... Indianer (Botokude).

C.

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

cabo ......................... Unteroffizier.
caboclo ...................... Indianermischling.
_(Portuguese and Indian.)_
cabreste _f.V._ kabreste .....
cachaça _m._, cachass _m._
(cachaça) .................. Zuckerrohrschnapps.
cacique _m._ ................. Indianerhäuptling.
cadea, cade _f._ (cadea,
cadeia) .................... Gefängniss.
camarão, camarong _m._
(camarão) .................... Krabbe.
camarote _f._ (camarote _m._) Theaterloge.
campamento (acampamento) ..... Feldlager.
campanha ..................... Ebne.
campo, camp _m._ (campo) ..... Grassland, Flur.
caneca ....................... Wasserbecher.
cangalje _f._ (cangalho) ..... Kreuzbocksattel, Packsattel.
canna _m.V._ cachaça .........
canne _f._ (canna, cana) ..... Zuckerrohr.
canoa, _n._, canu _n._
(canoa _f._) ............... Einbaum.
capa ......................... Mantel.
capão, capões _m.plu._ ....... Wald (kleiner, ausgerotteter)
capataz _m._ ................. Vorarbeiter.[TN2]
capinen _V._. kapinen ........
capitão ...................... Hauptmann.
capivara ..................... Wasserschein.
capoeire _f._ (capoeira) ..... Gebüsch. _(Land which had been
cleared, but which is again
covered with underbrush.)_
caramba ...................... potztausend! Donnerwetter!
carapato (carrapato) ......... Zecke, Holzbock.
carcereiro ................... Kerkermeister.
careje _f._ .................. Materösterei.
cargueiro .................... Lastträger, Lasttier, Lasttierführer.
carona ....................... Sattelkissen.
carreira ..................... Pferderennen, Wettrennen.
carrete _f._ (carreta) ....... Karren.
carreteiro ................... Fuhrmann, Kärrner.
carroça ...................... Karosse, Kutsche.
carroceiro ................... Fuhrmann.
carteira ..................... Brieftasche.
catuno ....................... Dieb.
caspite ...................... potztausend! Donnerwetter!
cautela (cautela, cautella) .. Einschreibezettel.
cavalheiro ................... Herr, Edelmann. (_Gentleman._)
caxeiro ...................... Ladendiener.
caxoeira (cachoeira) ......... Wasserfall, Stromschnelle.
chacara (chacara, chacra) .... Grundstück, Landhaus.
chapeo republicano ........... Hut (der Gauchos). R.G.
charque _n.V._ xarque ........
charqueada _f.V._ xarqueada ..
charute _f._, cherrute _f._
(charuto, cherruto) ...... Zigarre.
chilena ...................... Spore. (_As worn by gauchos._) R.G.
chimarrão (chimarra) ......... Ervatee. (_Without sugar._) R.G.
churasco (churrasco) ......... Spiessbraten. R.G.
cigarro ...................... Zigarette. (_Usually wrapped in
palha._")
cinema _m._ .................. Lichtbilderhalle.
cipó _m._ .................... Liane, Schlingpflanze.
cobrança ..................... Einkassierung.
cobrieren _V._ kobrieren .....
cochilha ..................... Hügelkette, Hügelland.
cochinilhos _m. plu._ ........ Kochenillewaren.
compadre _m._ ................ Gevatter, Freund.
companheiro .................. Gefährte, Kamerad.
coronel ...................... Oberst.
corral _m._ .................. Viehhof.
couveflor _n._ (couveflor _f._) Blumenkohl. (R.)
coxemalade _f._ (coxo = lame
_and_ melado = _sap of sugar
cane_) ..................... Lecksyrup.
coxinilhos _V._ cochinilhos ..
cuia, cuja, cuya (cuia, cuya) Matebecher. (_Made of a hollowed
gourd._)

=D.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

delegado ..................... Inspektor, Abgeordneter.
despaschieren (despachar) .... abfertigen[TN3], aus dem Zollamt
holen.
devolut (devoluto) ........... vakant, brachliegend. (Devolutes
Land == Regierungsland.)
diligencia ................... Postwagen, Diligence.
dispaschieren _V._
despachieren. ..............
doca (doca) .................. Hafendamm, Landeplatz.
doce _n._, doss n. (doce _m._) Süssigkeit, Konfekt.
dona ......................... Frau, Fräulein.

=E.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

egua (egua, egoa) ............ Stute.
encommenda, ericommende _f._
(encommenda) ............. Sendung (per Post, Bahn oder Schiff).
enfin (enfin, emfim) ......... mit einem Worte, endlich.
engenho _m._ ................. Zuckermühle.
erva ......................... Paraguaythee (ilex paraguayensis).
erva mate _m._ ............... _Ibid._
escriptorio .................. Büreau.
eskadron _m._ (esquadão) ..... Schwadron.
está bom ..................... es ist gut!
estampa ...................... Gepräge, Abdruck.
estancia ..................... Landgut, Viehzüchterei.
estancieiro .................. Viehzüchter.
e tanto ...................... und so und so viel.

=F.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

fac _m._ (facão) ............. Waldmesser.
fakong _m. V._ fac ...........
farello, farelle _f._ (farelo) Kleie.
farinha, farin _n._ (farinha) Mehl, Mandiocamehl.
farrapo, farrape _m._ (farrapo) Revolutionär. (_Of 1835._) R.G.
fazenda ...................... Landgut
fazendas ..................... Schnittwaren, Stoffe, Waren.
Landgüter.
fazendenloge _f._ (fazendas
_and_ loja) ................ Warenladen.
feijão ....................... Schminkbohne, schwarze Bohne.
feitor _m._ .................. Verwalter, Aufseher.
ferragens _f. plu._ .......... Eisenwaren.
figueira ..................... Feigenbaum.
foice _f._ (foiça, foice,
fouce, fouxe) .............. Buschsichel.
força ........................ Streitkraft, Revolutionärbande.
fosforo _n._ (fosforo) ....... Streichholz.
freguéz _m._ ................. Kunde.
freguezia .................... Kirchspiel.
fuchs _m.V._ foice ...........
fumo, fum _m._ (fumo) ........ Tabac.

=G.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

gaita ........................ Dudelsack, Zieharmonica.
gallinha ..................... Huhn.
galpão ....................... Schuppen, Hütte.
garaffe _f._ (garaffa) ....... Flasche.
garça ........................ Reiher.
garonne _f._ (garonna) ....... Reitdecke, Satteldecke (aus Leder).
garrafão, garafão (garrafão) . grosse Flasche.
garupa ....................... Kruppe.
gateado ...................... schwarzgefleckt (von Tieren).
gazose _f._ (gazosa) ......... Brauselimonade.
gordura ...................... Fettware (i.e., Schmalz, etc.).
governador _m._ .............. Statthalter.
gramme _f._ (grama) .......... Weidegras, Hundgras, Quecken.
guisada (guisado) ............ Ragout, Würzspeise.

=I.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

intendent _m._
(intendente _m._) .......... Verwalter, Landrat, Intendant.
invernada .................... Winterquartier. (_For cattle._)

=J.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

jacaré _m._ .................. Krokodil, Kaiman.
jaguatirica .................. Tigerkatze.
jatte _f._ (hiate _m._) ...... Segelschiff, Jacht, Zweimaster.

=K=.

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

kabokler _V._ caboclo ........
kabreste f. (cabresto) ....... Halfter.
kadee _f.V._ cadea ...........
kamp _V._ campo ..............
kangalje _f.V._ cangalje .....
kanoe _n._, kanoh _n.V._ canoa
kapinen (capinar) ............ gäten, jäten.
karrete _V._ carrete .........
kartonnage _f._ (cartonnagens
_f. plu._) ................. Pappware, Pappschachtel.
kaschass _m.V._ cachaça ......
kaschero, kaschör _m.V._
caxeiro ....................
kaschimbe, _f._ (cachimbo) ... Tabakspfeife.
kobrieren (cobrar) ........... einkassieren, einnehmen.
korbgarrafão (garaffão) ...... Korbflasche.

=L=.

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

laço ......................... Schlinge.
ladeira ...................... Abhang (eines Berges), steiler Weg.
lagarto ...................... Eidechse (grosse).
lancha, lanche _f._ (lancha) . Lastkahn, Boot.
larancha, laranche _f._
laranje _f._ (laranja) ..... Orange.
lassen (laçar) ............... Schlinge werfen, mit der Schlinge
fangen.
late _f._, latte _f._ (lata) . Blechbüchse, Dose, Kasten.
lelong _f._ (leilão) ......... Versteigerung, Auktion.
löge _f._ (loja) ............. Kaufmannsladen.
lote _f._ .................... Grundstück, Landparzelle, Lose.
louça ........................ Tafelgeschirr.

=M=.

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

macaco ....................... Affe.
macho ........................ Maulesel.
mais ou menos ................ mehr oder weniger, ungefär.
makak _m.V._ macaco ..........
mala ......................... Reisetasche, Mantelsack.
mamong _m._ (mamão) .......... Rizinus, Wunderbaumfrucht.
mandioca ..................... Maniok.
mandubi _f., m._ (mandubi _m._,
amendoim _m._) ............. Erdnuss.
manga ........................ Hofplatz (für Tiere).
mangeira (manjeira) .......... Futterstätte, Viehhof.
marchador .................... in langsamem Trapp.
mascato (mascate _m._) ....... Hausierer, Trödler.
mata-bicho _(Slang)_ ......... Schnapps.
matungo ...................... Klepper.
mellado ...................... Syrup.
mercado ...................... Markt.
mesclahosen _f. plu._ (mescla
= Mischung) ................ gestreifte Hosen.
mestizo (mestiço) ............ Mestize, Mischling.
mico ......................... Pfeifaffe.
milho ........................ Mais.
miljekolben _m._ (miljo) ..... Maiskolben.
miudezas _f. plu._ ........... Kleinigkeiten, kleine Gegenstände.
mula, mule _f._ (mula) ....... Maulesel, Maultier.
multe _f._ (multa) ........... Geldstrafe.
multieren (multar) ........... zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilen.
munizip _n._ (município) ..... Kreis, Teil eines Staates.

=N.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

no é? (não é?) ............... nicht wahr?
no senhor! (não senhor!) ..... nein, mein Herr!

=O.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

o de fora .................... heida, du draussen!
orsament _m._ (orçamento) .... Anschlag, Bauanschlag, Kostenanschlag.

=P.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

paciencia .................... Geduld!
paiol _m._ ................... Proviantkammer, Vorratskammer.
palha, palje _f._ (palha) .... Maisstroh.
palhazigarrette _f._ ......... Zigarette (mit Maisstroh gewickelt).
palla ........................ leichter Reitermantel.
palpite _m._ ................. Ahnung, Herzklopfen.
pancaré _m._ ................. hellbraunes Pferd.
past _m._ (pasto) ............ Weide.
pataca, patak _f._, patake
_f._ (pataca) .............. 320 Reis. (_Old coin._)
patacão ...................... Zweimilreistück. (_Old Spanish
silver dollar._)
patrão ....................... Prinzipal, Vorgesetzter.
patte _f._ (pata) ............ Ente.
peão ......................... Fussgänger, Reitknecht.
pechincha .................... gutes Geschäft, unverhoffter Gewinn.
periquito .................... Sittig, kleiner Papagei.
persienne _f._ (persianna) ... Sommerladen, Jalousie.
perú _m._ .................... Truthahn.
picaço ....................... dunkelgefarbtes aber weissfüssiges
Pferd.
picada, picade _f._, pikade
_f._(picada) ............... Waldpfad, Urwaldweg, Koloniestrasse.
picapau _m._ ................. Vorderlader, mit Vorderlader
bewaffneter Soldat.
pikarette _f._ (picareta) .... Picke, Spitzhacke.
pimente _f._ (pimenta) ....... Pfeffer, Nelkenpfeffer.
pinga ........................ Tropfen (Schnapps).
pipa, pipe _f._ (pipa) ....... Tonne, Fass.
polizeidelegado .............. Polizei-inspektor.
poncho ....................... Reitermantel.
portão, portong _m._ (portão) Hauseingang, Torweg.
porteira ..................... Eingangator (zur "Pikade").
portreere _f._ (portreiro) ... Koppel, Weideplatz, Viehraum
(eingefriedigter).
posen (repousar) ............. rasten, ruhen lassen.
potro ........................ Füllen, junges Pferd.
praça ........................ Platz, Marktplatz.
prima ........................ Base, Kousine.
primo ........................ Vetter.
prompt (prompto, pronto) ..... fertig, bereit
puschen (puxar) .............. ziehen.
puschochse _m._ .............. Zugochse.
pussen _V._ puschen ..........

=Q.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

quero-quero .................. Kiebitz.
questão _f._ (questão) ....... Frage.

=R.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

rancho ....................... Kolonistenhaus, Lehmhütte, Hütte.
rapadura ..................... Zuckerkuchen, brauner Zucker.
rebankieren (arrebanhar) ..... in Herden versammeln, zusammenscharen.
rekerieren (requerer) ........ auffordern, bitten, ersuchen.
riberong _m._ (riberão) ...... Bach.
rio _f. (sometimes m.),_ (rio) Fluss.
riscado ...................... Gingan, gestreiftes Baumwollenzeug.
roça, roce _f._ (roça) ....... Pflanzung, Lichtung.
rocemachen ................... Land urbarmachen.
rocewirtschaft _f._ .......... Landwirtschaft.
rodeiro ...................... Umweg, Ausflucht.
rosse _f.V._ roça ............
rossieren (roçar) ............ ausjäten, urbarmachen.

=S.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

sabiá _m._ ................... Amsel (brasilianische).
salto _m._ ................... Wasserfall.
sange _f._ (sanga) ........... Graben (wasserhaltiger).
scharute _f.V._ charute.......
scheegen (chegar) ............ genügen.
schikott _m._ (chicote _m._) . Peitsche.
seccos und molhados .......... Kolonialwaren (i.e. trockene und
nasse Waren).
sellieren (sellar) ........... stempeln, besiegeln.
sello ........................ Freimarke.
serra ........................ Gebirge, Hochland.
sertanejo .................... Einwohner der Wildnis.
sertão ....................... Wildnis, Einöde, Küstenwälder.
si, senhor! (sim, senhor) .... ja, mein Herr!
sitio ........................ Grundstück, kleines Landgut,
sobrado ...................... Stockwerk, Geschoss.
stanz _f.V._ estancia ........
strupiat (estropiado) ........ lahm, verkrüppelt.
suspensorios _m. plu._ ....... Hosenträger.

=T.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

tamanduá _m._ ................ Ameisenbär, Ameisenfresser.
taquara ...................... Bambus.
tarraffe _f._ (tarrafa) ...... Wurfnetz.
tatú _n._ (tatú _m._) ........ Gürteltier.
'te logo! _V._ até logo ......
tenente _m._ ................. Leutnant.
terral _m._ .................. Landwind.
thesouraria .................. Schatzkammer, Zahlamt.
tocken (tocar) ............... schlagen, antreiben.
tokaio (tocaio) .............. Namensvetter.
tolde _f._ (tolda) ........... Verdeck (auf einem Wagen).
tostão ....................... 100 Reis.
trace _f._ (traça) ........... Spur, Entwurf.
trapiche _m._, trapisch _m._
(trapiche _m._) ............ Lagerhaus (am Hafen), Kai.
troc _m._ (troca) ............ Wechsel, Tausch, Kleingeld.
trocken (trocar) ............. wechseln, tauschen.
tropa ........................ Trupp, Maultiertrupp.
tropeiro ..................... Viehhändler.
tupiano ...................... Scheck. (_Dappled horse._)

=U.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

urubú _m._ ................... Geier.

=V.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

vamos ........................ vorwärts!
vaqueano ..................... Führer.
vendaschuld _f._ (venda) ..... Zechschuld.
venda, vende _f._ (venda) .... Kaufladen, Kram und Schankladen,
Schenke.
vendeiro, vedist _m._
(vendeiro) ................. Gastwirt, Kleinhändler.
ventin _m._ (vintem _m._) .... 20 Reis. (_Coin._)
villa ........................ Städtchen.
vintem _m._, vinten _m. V._
ventin .....................
violáo ....................... Bratache, Bassgeige.
viva ......................... Vivat, Lebehoch.

=W.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

wentin _m. V._ ventin ........
wolte _f._ (volta)............ Spaziergang, Windung (eines Weges
oder Flusses).

=X.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

xarque _n._ (xarque _m._) .... Dörrfleisch.
xarqueada .................... Schlächterei.

=Z.=

_Brazilian German._ _High German._

zaino ........................ ungeflecktes Pferd (e.g. ganz
schwarz).
zebruno ...................... Falbe.
zigarro _V._ cigarro .........
zipo _V._ cipó ...............
zise _f._ (sisa, siza) ....... Accise, Verbrauchssteuer.