capoeira

noun

ca·​po·​ei·​ra ˌkä-pə-ˈwā-rə 

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

The roughly 75-minute work for 13 men brilliantly fuses a contemporary theatricality with street dance, capoeira, martial arts, and Sufi imagery to create a sense of communal ritual and power. —BostonGlobe.com, 19 Jan. 2023

In the classroom next door, the instructor performed capoeira and sang in Portuguese. —Brandon Drenon, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2022

To play an agile elf, Córdova studied various martial arts, including wushu, kung fu, and capoeira, while Boniadi took gardening and perfume workshops to prepare for her role as a healer. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022

There will be DJs, jazz performances, a sound bath, art and capoeira workshops and performances by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles. —Carolina A. Mirandacolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2022

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

People were drinking and eating and there was a group of boys doing capoeira. —Joshuah Bearman, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021

Its popularity grew as it was incorporated with the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira. —Kathy Cichon, chicagotribune.com, 8 July 2021

Her Missy is someone who is Black, but also a space nerd who has a green belt in capoeira and a huge crush on Nathan Fillion. —Shannon Carlin, refinery29.com, 5 Dec. 2020

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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