Names of Movements



aú: capoeira style cartwheel

bananeira: handstand or headstand

cabeçada: headbutt

chamada: literally to call; ritualized movement across roda

chapa de costas: flat footed kick to ones backside

chapa de frente: flat footed kick to the front

entrar: to enter

esquiva: escape movement

ginga: basic dance step of capoeira

jogar: to play capoeira

meia lua de costas: standing crescent kick from ones backside

meia lua de frente: standing crescent kick from the front

negativa: literally negative; basic defense

rabo de raia: stingray tail; low spining kick with hands on the ground

rasteira: a sweeping trip; trademark capoeira move

role: roll; basic defense

tesoura: "scissors"

volta ao mundo: "around the world"; circling the roda


General Vocabulary




angoleiro: a practitioner of the capoeira angola style

Bahia: Brazlian state on the eastern coast (see Salvador)

beriba: wood for making berimbau

berimbau: one-stringed precussion instrument

Besouro: a famous capoeirista who had legendary mandinga, a beetle

cabaça: gourd resonator of the berimbau

capoeirista: one who plays capoeira

camará: comrade

caxixí: shaker played with the berimbau

corridos: call and response songs accompanying action in the circle

costas: back (anatomy)

esquiva: escape movement [basic movement]

fechado: to be closed

fechar: to close

frente: front

gunga: bass berimbau

hora: hour; time

jogo: game; a game of capoeira; the verb is jogar

ladainha: introductory solo of roda or game

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: punk

nêgo: black guy

pandeiro: large tamborine played in capoeira or samba

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

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

tocar: to touch; to play music

vadiar: hanging out, chillin', making mischief; synonym for playing capoeira

volta ao mundo: "around the world"; circling the roda

viola: the highest pitched berimbau


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