João

See also: joão and Joaõ

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• Joaõ (obsolete)
• Joam (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese Joan, from Latin Iōhannēs, a variant of Iōannēs), from New Testament Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), contraction from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yôḥānān, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of Ivan, Ian, Jean, Ruan, and Geovane.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃], /ʒuˈɐ̃w̃/ [ʒʊˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃], (faster pronunciation) /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃/ [ˈʒwɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃/

• Hyphenation: Jo‧ão
• Rhymes: -ɐ̃w̃

Proper noun

João m (plural Joões) (f: Joana)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English John
   • 1959, João Ferreira de Almeida, Almeida Revista e Atualizada, Sociedade Bíblica do Brasil, João 1:6:

     Houve um homem enviado de Deus, cujo nome era João.

     There was a man sent by God, whose name was John.

   • 1862, Camilo Castelo Branco, Amor e Perdição:

     Você é cruel, senhor João! — disse o academico.

     You are cruel, mister John! - said the academic.

   • 1911, Garcia Redondo, Descobrimento do Brazil, Casa Vanorder, page 44:

     Munido dessa generosa carta de D. João II, que é um salvo conducto, Colombo volta a Portugal...

     Having this generous letter from King John II, which is a safe-conduct, Columbus returns to Portugal...

Derived terms

• joanino
• joão-de-barro
• joão-ninguém