Tupi
Language Information
Tupi was spoken along the coast of Brazil at the time of European arrival. It belongs to the Tupi-Guarani family and is now extinct in its classical form, but a descendant, Nheengatu, is still spoken in the Amazon region of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
In the colonial period, Jesuit missionaries used Tupi as a common language, and it was more widely spoken in Brazil than Portuguese until the 18th century. Many words for Brazilian plants, animals, and places come from Tupi, including jaguar, piranha, and tapioca.
In the colonial period, Jesuit missionaries used Tupi as a common language, and it was more widely spoken in Brazil than Portuguese until the 18th century. Many words for Brazilian plants, animals, and places come from Tupi, including jaguar, piranha, and tapioca.
- Language Family
- Central South American Indian
- Subgroup
- Andean Equatorial