The Falando Atlas of Brazilian Portuguese
libélula, lava-bunda, bate-bunda, zigue-zigue, cigarra, cachimbal, catirina, or mané-magro — libélula (understood nationwide); lava-bunda (the Central-West, the Southeast, the South); bate-bunda (the Central-West); zigue-zigue (the Northeast); cigarra (the Southeast, the South); cachimbal (the Northeast); catirina (the Northeast); mané-magro (the Northeast).
Libélula is the neutral nationwide word. ALiB records lava-bunda across the Centre-West, Southeast and South; bate-bunda in the Centre-West; zigue-zigue, cachimbal, catirina and mané-magro in the Northeast; and cigarra in the Southeast and South.
Some are vivid informal names, and cigarra has a different standard insect meaning elsewhere.
| Word | Meaning | Where it is most associated | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| libélula | dragonfly | Understood everywhere in Brazil. | neutral |
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Regional patterns, not hard borders. A word may be used outside the highlighted area, and multiple words can coexist in the same region. Falando highlights the strongest and most useful patterns from its sources.
| lava-bunda |
|---|
| dragonfly |
| the Central-West — More common here; the Southeast — More common here; the South — More common here |
| informal |
| bate-bunda | dragonfly | the Central-West — More common here | informal |
|---|
| zigue-zigue | dragonfly | the Northeast — More common here | informal |
|---|
| cigarra | dragonfly | the Southeast — More common here; the South — More common here | neutral |
|---|
| cachimbal | dragonfly | the Northeast — More common here | neutral |
|---|
| catirina | dragonfly | the Northeast — More common here | neutral |
|---|
| mané-magro | dragonfly | the Northeast — More common here | informal |
|---|
dragonfly
The neutral standard word for a dragonfly and the safest choice throughout Brazil. ALiB also reveals a striking patchwork of local names.
Uma libélula verde pousou na folha perto do lago.A green dragonfly landed on the leaf near the lake.
Understood everywhere in Brazil.
dragonfly
A vivid informal dragonfly name recorded across the Centre-West, Southeast and South. Literally it resembles “bottom-washer”; use it as a regional animal name, not in formal writing.
Um lava-bunda pousou no varal logo depois da chuva.A dragonfly landed on the clothesline just after the rain.
dragonfly
A vivid Centre-Western dragonfly name, literally suggesting something that “taps its bottom”. It is a regional animal name rather than formal vocabulary.
Uma bate-bunda azul pousou na beira do açude.A blue dragonfly landed at the edge of the pond.
dragonfly
A Northeastern dragonfly name whose repeated form evokes quick zigzag movement.
O zigue-zigue azul acompanhou a canoa por alguns metros.The blue dragonfly followed the canoe for a few meters.
dragonfly
A regional dragonfly name in the Southeast and South. Elsewhere, cigarra normally means “cicada”, so the local insect context is essential.
Minha tia chamou de cigarra a libélula que cruzou o jardim.My aunt called the dragonfly that crossed the garden a cigarra.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name recorded in ALiB’s regional comparison.
O cachimbal ficou parado no ar antes de pousar no galho.The dragonfly hovered before landing on the branch.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name recorded in ALiB’s regional comparison.
A catirina vermelha passou rente à água.The red dragonfly flew close to the water.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name, literally “skinny Mané”, motivated by the insect’s long thin body.
O mané-magro azul rondava as plantas perto do riacho.The blue dragonfly circled the plants near the stream.
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