lingua geral

[ zhuh-rahl ]

noun

, (often initial capital letters)

1. a lingua franca based on Tupi and spoken in the Amazon basin of South America.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingua geral¹

1855–60; < Portuguese: general language

Example Sentences

It is these that are more properly called sucurujus,—a name belonging to the common language spoken upon the Amazon, a mixture of Portuguese with the ancient tongue of the Supinampas, known as the lingua geral.

From Project Gutenberg

The myths I have placed on record in this little paper have, without doubt, a wide currency on the Amazonas, but I have found them only among the Indian population, and they are all collected in the Lingua Geral.

From Project Gutenberg

They speak the lingua Geral, and sometimes Portuguese.

From Project Gutenberg

The lingua Geral is the ancient Tupee language, considerably modified by the Jesuits, who taught it to all those under their control.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the Brazilian tribes were reclaimed from their more barbarous practices by the Portuguese missionaries, who from their numerous dialects formed the language now generally in use—the Tupi, Guarani, or lingua Geral.

From Project Gutenberg