The Falando Atlas of Brazilian Portuguese
tangerina, bergamota or mexerica — tangerina (nationwide); bergamota (Rio Grande do Sul, the South); mexerica (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, the Southeast, Rio de Janeiro).
Approximate. Usage varies by age, social group and context; a word can be heard outside the highlighted area.
Ask for this fruit in three Brazilian states and you may need three different words.
Tangerina is the neutral, nationwide name. Bergamota belongs to Rio Grande do Sul and much of the South, while mexerica dominates São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Brazil has still more names for it regionally — this map shows the three that Falando documents with sources.
None of these is more correct than another; they are simply what people grew up saying.
tangerine
The neutral, nationwide word for a tangerine, and the one you will see on a supermarket label. In everyday speech the regional name usually wins: bergamota in Rio Grande do Sul, mexerica in São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
Comprei tangerina na feira de manhã.I bought tangerines at the market in the morning.
Understood everywhere in Brazil.
tangerine
The ordinary word for tangerine in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina; elsewhere in Brazil people say mexerica, tangerina, poncã or mimosa. It is fully neutral, used in shops and at home.
No sul, bergamota é uma palavra comum.In the south, bergamota is a common word.
tangerine
The Southeastern name for the tangerine; elsewhere you will hear 'tangerina', 'bergamota' (South) or 'mimosa'. Completely neutral, everyday vocabulary at the market.
Em São Paulo, muita gente diz mexerica.In São Paulo, many people say mexerica.
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