Berimbau

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌbɛɹɪmˈbaʊ/

Definitions

1. A traditional Brazilian musical instrument featuring a single string and a resonator gourd, typically played with a bow and used in cultural expressions like capoeira
2. This instrument from Brazil combines a bow and a vibrated string along with a gourd for sound amplification, integral to specific music and dance practices
3. A single-string percussion instrument from Brazil, which uses a gourd as a resonator and is commonly associated with traditional music and dance forms like capoeira

Etymology: The berimbau is a single-stringed instrument, played with a stick and a wire string, that anchors capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art and dance. Its name entered English by way of Brazilian Portuguese, the form of Portuguese spoken in Brazil, where the instrument is central to the music that accompanies capoeira rounds. The English word is a direct borrowing, so it keeps the Brazilian term's sound and spelling rather than being translated. The instrument itself is a striking example of how a simple design can produce a complex sound. A bow is fixed to a wooden stick, a steel wire is stretched between the two ends, and a hollow gourd is attached near the base. Pressing the gourd against the body changes the tone and volume, while a coin or stone held against the string creates a buzzing, rattling timbre. The gourd also works as a resonator, amplifying the sound so a single string can carry across a crowded roda.