Minas Gerais

English

Etymology

From Portuguese Minas Gerais.

Proper noun

Minas Gerais

1. A state of the Southeast Region, Brazil. Capital: Belo Horizonte

Translations

state in south-eastern Brazil

• Latin: Minarum Generalium
• Portuguese: Minas Gerais (pt) f or f pl

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Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “General Mines”. Two origins are proposed:

• Literal meaning: the mines spread in several spots around a larger region
• From Minas dos Matos Gerais ("Mines of the General Woods"), which encompasses the region of "Mines" and the region of "General Woods" (or "General Fields"), which were farther from mines and harder to access

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmĩ.nɐz ʒeˈɾajs/ [ˈmĩ.nɐz ʒeˈɾaɪ̯s]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmĩ.nɐz ʒeˈɾajs/ [ˈmĩ.nɐz ʒeˈɾaɪ̯s]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈmĩ.nɐ ʒeˈɾajʃ/ [ˈmĩ.nɐ ʒeˈɾaɪ̯ʃ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.naz ʒeˈɾajs/ [ˈmi.naz ʒeˈɾaɪ̯s]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.nɐ ʒɨˈɾajʃ/

• Audio (BR)

  (file)

Proper noun

Minas Gerais

1. A state of the Southeast Region, Brazil. Capital: Belo Horizonte

   Synonyms: Minas, MG

Related terms

• mineiro (demonym)