Bugre

/buːˈɡreɪ/ noun

Definition

A member of an indigenous people of southern Brazil and Paraguay; also refers to their language or culture.

Etymology

From Portuguese, referring to indigenous peoples of the southern Brazilian/Paraguayan regions. The term is now considered dated; modern usage prefers self-identified ethnic names.

Kelly Says

Colonial names for indigenous peoples often stuck even after they were considered disrespectful—'Bugre' is a good example of how language preserves old power imbalances, which is why modern people reclaim their own names.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.