What is a Capixaba?...Plus, Some Vocabulary From The Brazilian State Espírito Santo

What is a Capixaba?

Espírito Santo (literally means “Holy Spirit”) is a small state on the coast, squished between Bahia, Rio de Janeiro & Minas Gerais. It’s a state a lot of people say has no accent really, because each part of the state borders another state with such strong cultural and linguistic traits that it makes it difficult to have it’s own identity.

Capixabas is the name for Brazilians who come from the state of Espírito Santo. Like every other state in Brazil, Espírito Santo has its own sayings and expressions (capixabês)! Below are some popular words and expressions from Espírito Santo (first is the word in capixabês, and then the mainstream Portuguese word, and then the English translation). Please comment on this post if you can think of more!

What is a Capixaba?...Plus, Some Vocabulary From The Brazilian State Espírito Santo

Guarapari, Espirito Santo - Where Mineiros go to vacation

Portuguese Vocabulary And Slang From Espírito Santo

quebrar/estourar/pipocar – to break, explode

pocar fora – sair correndo, picar a mula - run away, peace out

sentir gastura – estar agoniado/a – to feel weasy

iá – estar supreso/a com algo – to be surprised, receive interesting news.

pão de sal – pão francês (para os paulistas), cacetinho (para os sulistas) – small loaf of bread, popular all throughout Brazil, but with different names in different states!

esburrar - estar cheio – to be full of/filled with

chapoletada – acidente de carro – car accident

saltar – desembarcar, descer (do onibus) – to get off at, from a bus/train

se injuriar – se estressar – to become stressed/annoyed

So Why are “capixabas” called something so different from the state’s name?

Capixaba is a word from the indigenous language, Tupi, which means “clean land for growing”, and the indians who lived in what is today Espírito Santo, called the land they planted their milho & mandioca on, capixaba. With this, the settlers in Vitória (the state’s capital), started to call these indians as such and the name passed on to those who live in the region today!