WikiWord

English

Portugal

/ˈpɔːt͡ʃəɡəl/ · name

Meaning

  1. A country in Southern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula. Official name: Portuguese Republic. Capital and largest city: Lisbon.
  2. A Portuguese person.

Etymology / origin

Borrowed from Portuguese Portugal, from Latin Portucale < Portus Cale (former name of what is now the city of Vila Nova de Gaia), from portus + Callus, which is disputed: * From the name of the Gallaeci, a Celtic tribe of Iberia. * From Latin calidus (“warm”). * From Ancient Greek Καλλίς (Kallís, “Beautiful”), referring to the Douro valley; see καλός (kalós, “beautiful”). * An Iberian pronunciation of Ancient Greek Γαῖα (Gaîa, “goddess of the Earth”).

Sources

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