João

See also: joão and Joaõ

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From Old Galician-Portuguese Joan, from Latin Iōhannēs, a variant of Iōannēs, from New Testament Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), contraction from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yôḥānān, literally God is gracious). Doublet of Ivan, Ian, Jean, Ruan, and Geovane.

    Pronunciation

     
    • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃], /ʒuˈɐ̃w̃/ [ʒʊˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃], (faster pronunciation) /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃/ [ˈʒwɐ̃ʊ̯̃]
      • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

    • Rhymes: -ɐ̃w̃
    • Hyphenation: Jo‧ão

    Proper noun

    João m (plural Joões, feminine Joana, feminine plural Joanas)

    1. a male given name, equivalent to English John
      • 1862, Camilo Castelo Branco, Amor e Perdição:
        Você é cruel, senhor João! — disse o academico.
        You are cruel, mister John! - said the academic.
      • 1911, Garcia Redondo, Descobrimento do Brazil, Casa Vanorder, page 44:
        Munido dessa generosa carta de D. João II, que é um salvo conducto, Colombo volta a Portugal...
        Having this generous letter from King John II, which is a safe-conduct, Columbus returns to Portugal...
    2. (biblical) John (one of four persons of the Bible)
      • 1959 [1681], João Ferreira de Almeida, Jacobus op den Akker, transl., Bíblia Sagrada Almeida Revista e Atualizada, Barueri: SBB, →ISBN, João, 1:6:
        Houve um homem enviado de Deus, cujo nome era João.
        There was a man sent by God, whose name was John.
    3. (biblical) John (gospel of St. John)
    4. (biblical, loosely) John (one of the epistles of John)

    Derived terms

    See also