carioca

noun

ca·​ri·​o·​ca ˌker-ē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce carioca (audio)
ˌka-rē-
1
capitalized : a native or resident of Rio de Janeiro
2
a
: a variation of the samba
b
: the music for this dance

Examples of carioca 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.
All dishes feature an element of fire cooking, whether from the grill, yakitori, or charcoal, and all showcase an adventurous culinary approach to traditional carioca cuisine. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025 The carioca, or grapevine exercise, provides an aerobic challenge while improving your agility and balance. Tim Petrie, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025 Through her trilingual funk carioca, reggaetón, Afrobeat, and fizzy pop songs, the singer closes the divide between cultures while celebrating her Brazilian roots on the world stage, as evinced in her 2024 album, Funk Generation. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025 These days, Brazilian funk (also known as funk carioca or baile funk) is bigger than ever, spawning TikTok dance challenges and full-on choreography. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024 Since launching her career in 2010, the 29-year-old Brazilian has charted with funk carioca and pop hits in her native Portuguese, as well as Spanish and English, and her catalog includes collaborations with artists ranging from Missy Elliot and Madonna to Caetano Veloso and Maluma. Thania Garcia, Variety, 13 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Brazilian Portuguese

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carioca was in 1830

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Cite this Entry

“Carioca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carioca. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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