Hey my friends! Do you know what is a Gaúcho in Portuguese? Do you have any idea what do Gaúchos wear? Let’s learn more about this Brazilian identity while we learn Portuguese online!
Do you know what is a Gaúcho?
The word Gaúcho is used in Argentina, Uruguay and here in Brazil. But for us, Brazilians, Gaúcho has a different meaning from other countries. In Argentina and Uruguay, a gaucho is a person of the countryside usually linked to activities with animals on farms. However, here in Brazil, a gaúcho is a resident of Rio Grande do Sul, a Brazilian state, and it does not matter if he lives in the country or in the city. The word gaúcho was a political term used to represent Brazilian soldiers who participated in the Guerra dos Farrapos (Ragamuffin War) from 1835 to 1845. At the end of the war, with the victory of the gaúchos, the residents who lived in the region adopted the name for themselves.
What are the Gaúchos Like?
The two greatest characteristics of a gaúcho are his way of speaking and his cooking. The gaúchos have a unique accent, with a strong influence of the neighboring countries that speak Spanish, mainly in the sounds of the R and in the sound of the final L. They also often use the word tchê to refer to a friend.
And speaking of cooking, the best barbecue in Brazil is made in Rio Grande do Sul. The more traditional gaúchos usually dig a ditch in the ground, fill the trench with charcoal and skewers with huge pieces of meat to roast over it. Have you seen anything like it?
What do Gaúchos Wear?
The typical dress of the gauchos is called pilcha. This garment is already considered, by state law, official and honorable attire in Rio Grande do Sul. The origin comes from the typical clothing of the Spaniards, more specifically from the region of Andalusia. Then it changed according to the typical characteristics of the southern regions of Brazil. Let’s check the differences between the pilcha for each gender:
- For men, it includes boots, Bombacha Guaiaca (a different type of pants), shirt, vest, coat and scarf.
- For women, it consists of a skirt and blouse, or a skirt and a jacket, or a long dress; a skirt with a frame, the bombachina, socks and shoes.
Reviewing the Gaúcho Vocabulary
| Countryside | Campo/Interior |
| Animals | Animais |
| Farms | Fazendas |
| However | No entanto |
| Accent | Sotaque |
| Neighboring | Vizinho |
| Trench | Trincheira |
| Charcoal | Carvão |
| Skewers | Espetos |
| Roast | Assar |
Have you ever met a gaúcho? Have you visited Rio Grande do Sul? Come enjoy a six-month student visa and get to know Brazil and our culture!
A kiss from Rio & Learn for you!
See you later!
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Rio Grande do Sul
Brazilian Barbecue
States and Regions of Brazil
Brazilian Caipira
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes