relâmpago

See also: relampago and relámpago

Portuguese

relâmpago

Alternative forms

• relâmpado (dialectal)

Etymology

Alteration of relâmpado, from re- +‎ lâmpado, from Latin lampada (“lamp”), from lampas, or through a derivative of Late Latin lampāre. The prefix re- indicates the idea of repetition, hence lightning striking over and over again. Compare Spanish relámpago.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʁeˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu/ [heˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʁeˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu/ [heˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ʁeˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu/ [χeˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡu]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʁeˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡo/ [heˈlɐ̃.pa.ɡo]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ʁɨˈlɐ̃.pɐ.ɡu/ [ʁɨˈlɐ̃.pɐ.ɣu]

• Hyphenation: re‧lâm‧pa‧go

Noun

relâmpago m (plural relâmpagos)

1. lightning (flash of light caused by the discharge of atmospheric electrical charge)

   Synonyms: raio, relampagueamento, relampejo, relampo, alustro, alustre, alúmio

Usage notes

Some commentators enforce a distinction in meaning between raio and relâmpago, such that the former refers specifically to a lightning bolt, while the latter refers to the flash of light stemming from it. In common usage, this distinction does not exist, and other commentators call the word synonymous.

A more common distinction is made with trovão, which refers only to thunder, the sound of lightning.

Derived terms

• relâmpago globular

Related terms

• relampadar
• relampadear
• relampadejante
• relampadejar
• relâmpado
• relampagueamento
• relampagueante
• relampaguear
• relampaguejar
• relampar
• relampeado
• relampear
• relampejante
• relampejar
• relampejo
• relampo
• relamposo

Adjective

relâmpago (invariable)

1. (in hyphenated compounds) sudden and unexpected