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You are here: Home / Bahian Culture / Portuguese – English Glossary

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Portuguese – English Glossary

If you’ve attended Batala Washington’s yearly Be a Drummer for a Day event, you may find learning these terms useful.

A Cultura

 

The Culture

Adeus / Tchau

 

Goodbye

Agogô

Musical instrument similar to an iron cowbell and stick that is played in traditional Yoruba music as well as in samba baterias

Atabaque

 

Drum played in religious settings

Até logo

 

See you later

Axé

 

A Yoruba word used in Candomblé religion that means life force, divine power, essence of being or existence, but also has a similar meaning to “amen.” Also used as colloquial expression in Bahia to greet or express good vibes, agreement, well-being. Also describes a genre of music.

Bahia

 

A state in northeastern Brazil which has the capital city of Salvador, the birthplace of Samba Reggae music. “Bahia” also means “bay” in Portuguese.

Baiano(a)

Someone from the state of Bahia

Banda

Band

Banda Feminina

 

Female Band

Banda de Percussão

 

Percussion Band

Batucada

The drumming sounds that the band makes

Bebidas

 

Drinks

Bem-vindos(as)

 

Welcome

Bloco

 

Group of masqueraders marching/dancing/playing with a particular band

Blocos-Afro

 

Afro-Blocos (Afro-Brazilian organizations that plan and put on samba-reggae parades during Carnival, common in Salvador. Like a samba school, but these organizations are Afro-centric in their cultural themes and community-driven purpose and play samba-reggae. They typically have many other social functions and may serve as the community center in a neighborhood)

Boa noite

 

Good night

Boa tarde

 

Good afternoon

Bom dia

 

Good morning

Caixa

 

Snare drum

Canção / Canto

 

Song / Chant

Candomblé

 

A West African based religion primarily influenced by Yoruba, but also Fon and Bantu ethnic groups, spiritual traditions with some Catholic elements. It is practiced by many throughout Brazil, but especially in Bahia where the religious iconography is interwoven throughout the cultural landscape.

Carnaval

 

Carnival

Dança

 

Dance

Desfile

 

Parade

Diversão

 

Fun

Dobra

 

Smaller, mid-tone bass drum

Ensaio

 

Rehearsal

Escola de Samba

Samba School (an organization that plans and puts on samba parades during Carnival.
It typically has many other social functions and may serve as the community center in its neighborhood)

Fantasia

 

Costume

Fãs

 

Fans

Festa

 

Party / Festival

Fotos

 

Photos

Instrumentos Musicais

 

Musical Instruments

Iorubá

 

Yoruba (an ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria and eastern Benin that were enslaved and taken to Bahia, Brazil. Samba-Reggae music and Bahian culture is heavily influenced by the Yoruba language, culture, and religion maintained by Afro-descendants.

“Legal!”

 

“Cool!”

Maestra(o)

Conductor

Música

 

Music

Obrigada(o)

 

Thank you

Olá

 

Hello

“Oxente!”

 

Colloquial expression used in Bahia to express surprise or disbelief

Pandeiro

 

A small frame drum that looks similar to a tambourine in size and shape, but without the jingles and played with a stick.

Pintura de Rosto

 

Face Painting

Por Favor

 

Please

Repinique / Repique

High pitched drum that carries the clave or is the “caller” in Samba Reggae rhythms

Ritmo

Rhythm

Roda

 

Circle

Samba-Reggae / Samba-Afro / Afro-Reggae

 

Samba-Reggae (a genre of music that is a mixture of samba and reggae rhythms that was developed in Salvador, Bahia in the 1970s and 80s)

Saudução / Saudações

 

Greeting / Greetings

Show

 

Show

Surdo / Fundo

Bass drum

Tambor

 

Drum

Tamborista

 

Drummer

Tempo

 

Tempo

Timbau

 

Timbal (A tall, conical shaped drum, played by hand like the atabaque.)

Xequerê

 

Shekere (a West African instrument made from a hollow gourd with a netting of beads wrapped around it. The sound is made by shaking it or hitting it against the hand rhythmically.)
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Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’ Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’re so excited for it! Join us for any or all of our performances! Saturday 12p: Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival @ngadc 3:30p: Mt Pleasant family show @dcpl Sunday 5pm: Season Opener halftime show @washingtonspirit
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Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturd Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturday? Batalá Washington will be participating at this year’s Mardi Grass Parade at The Wharf. Festivities start at 3pm. February 26 at 3pm. Hope to see you there! 

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Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington! Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington!
Batalá Washington’s mission is to empower women through music and drumming and to expose our DC community to the Afro-Brazilian, most specifically to the Afro-Bahian, music and culture. We celebrate and honor all the Afro-Brazilian artists and musicians who inspire us every day.
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We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for a We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for all the runners of the @runrocknroll half marathon! Thanks to all the runners, staff, volunteers, first responders and crowd for a great race! 👟🥁
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