Cariocas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of traditional Brazilian dance characterized by lively movements and often performed in a partnered format
2. A style of dance originating from Brazil, known for its energetic steps and rhythmic music, typically involving pairs
3. A lively and spirited dance form from Brazil that combines elements of samba and folk dancing in a social setting

Etymology: "Cariocas" is the plural of "carioca", and the dance name is a small piece of Brazilian place-naming. The noun traces back to Old Tupi "kariîoka", the word the Tupi people used for the white settlers' houses of the Rio de Janeiro area, a term that later became the name for a person born in Rio de Janeiro itself. Portuguese borrowed it as "carioca", and English took it from Portuguese, so the dance name reaches back to the same root as the city's inhabitants. The dance meaning is the one readers rarely connect to the city. The word has come to denote a lively partnered dance style, but its core sense is still a Rio resident, so the dance is named after the people of the city rather than after any step or rhythm. The connection to a place is what the word keeps throughout its history.