Glossary of Capoeira Related Terms

A Brief A – Z of Capoeira terms

Learning Capoeira words

academia – capoeira school Energy,  Axe -the magical quality present in a real roda and which only true Capoeiristas can bring

aluno – student of a capoeira master; same as discipulo

Angola – a traditional style of capoeira

Angoleiro – a practitioner of the Angola style

Apelido – nickname given to a player in the course of his training, sometimes as part of a batizado initiation

arame – metal string on the berimbau

arrastao – capoeira takedown, pulling both legs from under an opponent

ataque – attacking move or movement initiative

aú – cartwheel

axe -the magical quality prsent in a real roda and which only true Capoeiristas can bring

aviso – a berimbau rythmn, formerly used to warn players of a police raid

balanço – part of the basic capoeira move (ginga); torso rocks forward and back as the weight shifts

bamba – someone adept at verbal or physical sparring; capoeira expert

banda – movement to trip or flank an opponent

barravent – a berimbau rythmn; refers to a prepossesion trance state

base – base, the ginga, the fundamental movement

batizado – the capoeira initiation ceremony; baptism

bênção - blessing; a front kick

berimbau – lead instrument in capoeira, a musical bow

bôca de siri – ‘crab’s mouth’ movement

brincar – to play like a child

cabaça – gourd used as the resonator on the berimbau

cabeçada – head butt

camará – comrade; capoeira college

capoeirista – a capoeira player

cavalaria – ‘cavalry,’ a berimbau rhythm formerly used to warn of a police raid

caxixí - woven rattle played with the berimbau

chamada – ‘call,’ a named subroutine of capoeira play,the basic kind of inner game

chula – special introductory song, always follows ladainha

cocorinha – squatting movement

comprar de jôgo – to buy a game, entering the circle by cutting in on another player

contragolpe – counterattack – to respond to an initiative

contramestre – an instructor working under a master’s guidance in an academy

cordão – colored belt awarded to mark grades of advancement in some academies

corridos – call and response songs accompanying action in the circle

dá volta ao mundo – ‘take a turn around the world’, a named subroutine of play that involves circling the ring

defesa – defensive move or movement response

desequilibrante - movement that unbalances the opponent

discípulo – disciple, student of a capoeira master

dobrão – coin used to play the berimbau

esquiva – escape movement

fechar o corpo – to close the body

floreios – acrobatic movements

formatura – graduation ceremony for a new capoeira master

fuga – flight, a catagory of defensive movements

ginga – the fundamental capoeira movement

golpe - strike or blow; attacking movement

iaiá ioiô – terms used by slaves for daughters and sons of the master

jogador – player

jogar – to play games

jôgo – game

ladainha – litany, and introductory solo, usually sung by a master

ligeiro – swift, quick; nimble, agile; slippery, dishonest

maculêlê – another martial arts dance to music, involving rhythmic stick play

malandragem – hooliganism, shady activities; synonym for capoeira play

malandro – street tough, hoodlum, scoundrel, con man,bad guy

malícia – deception, trickery, cunning, double-dealing, indirection

mandigueiro – sorceror; healer; synonym for capoeira player

mangangá – medicine man

martelo – ‘hammer’ kick; a rhymed song form

meia-lua de compasso – ‘half moon in a compass,’ a spinning kick

mestre – master, senior capoeira teacher

mocambo – fugitive slave community

moeda – coin used to play the berimbau

moleque – street urchin

pandeiro – tambourine

passada – footwork, especially in the ginga

patuá – protective amulet

pé – ‘foot’, position in front of the berimbau

pião – ‘spinning top,’ headspin (no hands)

queda – fall, basic way to lose advantage in the game

quilombo – fugitive slave community

rabo de arraia – ‘stingray’s tail’ kick

rasteira – sweep; the basic takedown

reco-reco – ribbed bamboo scraper in capoeira musical ensemble

recuo – retreat move, usually with one hand on the ground

Regional – innovative, modern style of capoeira, associated with Mestre Bimba

roda – circle; space for playing capoeira

saída – exit, most formal way to enter ring; one ‘exits’ from the foot of the berimbau

seqüência – sequence of moves learned by players in Regional style

tocar – to play music

vadiação – loafing, hanging around; synonym for capoeira

vaqueta – stick used to strike the string of the berimbau

vêrga – wooden pole that is the body of the berimbau