capoeira

noun

ca·​po·​ei·​ra ˌkä-pə-ˈwā-rə How to pronounce capoeira (audio)
ˌkäp-ˈwā-
: a Brazilian dance of African origin that incorporates martial arts movements such as kicks and chops

Examples of capoeira in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People were drinking and eating and there was a group of boys doing capoeira. — Joshuah Bearman, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021 In the classroom next door, the instructor performed capoeira and sang in Portuguese. — Brandon Drenon, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2022 Its popularity grew as it was incorporated with the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira. — Kathy Cichon, chicagotribune.com, 8 July 2021 Her itineraries often include horseback riding along nearby beaches; lessons in capoeira, the Brazilian martial art; and private dinners at local restaurants. — Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2022 See All Example Sentences for capoeira

Word History

Etymology

Brazilian Portuguese, kind of martial art, ruffian skilled in this art, fugitive slave living in the forest, from capão island of forest in a clear-cut area, from Tupi kaʔapáũ, from kaʔá forest + paũ round

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capoeira was in 1928

Rhymes for capoeira

See All Rhymes for capoeira

Browse Nearby Words

Capo di Monte
capoeira
cap of liberty
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capoeira.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capoeira. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on capoeira

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about capoeira

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All