The Falando Atlas of Brazilian Portuguese
libélula, lava-bunda, bate-bunda, zigue-zigue, cigarra, cachimbal, catirina or mané-magro — libélula (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).
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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.
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 |
| 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.
No Brasil, libélula é o nome neutro desse inseto.Libélula is the neutral Brazilian name for this insect.
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.
A pesquisa registrou lava-bunda como nome de libélula.The survey recorded lava-bunda as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A vivid Centre-Western dragonfly name, literally suggesting something that “taps its bottom”. It is a regional animal name rather than formal vocabulary.
A pesquisa registrou bate-bunda como nome de libélula.The survey recorded bate-bunda as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A Northeastern dragonfly name whose repeated form evokes quick zigzag movement.
A pesquisa registrou zigue-zigue como nome de libélula.The survey recorded zigue-zigue as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A regional dragonfly name in the Southeast and South. Elsewhere, cigarra normally means “cicada”, so the local insect context is essential.
A pesquisa registrou cigarra como nome de libélula.The survey recorded cigarra as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name recorded in ALiB’s regional comparison.
A pesquisa registrou cachimbal como nome de libélula.The survey recorded cachimbal as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name recorded in ALiB’s regional comparison.
A pesquisa registrou catirina como nome de libélula.The survey recorded catirina as a name for a dragonfly.
dragonfly
A rare Northeastern dragonfly name, literally “skinny Mané”, motivated by the insect’s long thin body.
A pesquisa registrou mané-magro como nome de libélula.The survey recorded mané-magro as a name for a dragonfly.
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