Recife

American

[ruh-see-fuh] / rəˈsi fə /

noun

a seaport in and the capital of Pernambuco province, in NE Brazil.

Recife British

/ rɛˈsiːfə /

noun

Former name: Pernambuco. a port at the easternmost point of Brazil on the Atlantic: capital of Pernambuco state; built partly on an island, with many waterways and bridges. Pop: 3 527 000 (2005 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mendonca Filho spoke with AFP from Recife, his hometown in northeastern Brazil, where he received the news of the Oscar nominations.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

A key clandestine meeting in “The Secret Agent” happens at the São Luiz, a beloved Recife movie house from Mendonça Filho’s childhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

“Jaws,” released in America two years earlier, is still playing in the city of Recife, and the use of the toothy fish as a recurring motif suggests all norms are on hold while sharks rule.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Wolves brought the 18-year-old Lima to Molineux for £8.5m from Sport Recife in July, reportedly snatching him from Chelsea's grasp, and he has impressed in pre-season.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2024

The Portuguese—"mascates" they were called—revolted in their turn and drove him from Recife.

From The South American Republics Part I of II by Dawson, Thomas C.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023