Kurupira

Inherited from Old Tupi Kurupira.

• IPA^(key): /kuruˈpira/, (Rio Negro) [ku.ɾuˈpi.ɾɐ]
• Rhymes: -ira
• Hyphenation: Ku‧ru‧pi‧ra

Kurupira

1. Curupira
   • 1876, chapter XVI, in José Vieira Couto de Magalhães, compiler, O Selvagem [The Wild], Rio de Janeiro: Typ. da Reforma, page 120:

     Curupíra orekó será i pi̙ çacaquẹ́ra […] kẹté?

     Does Curupira have backward feet?

• Marcel Twardowsky Avila (2021) “Kurupira”, in Proposta de dicionário nheengatu-português [Nheengatu–Portuguese dictionary proposal] (in Portuguese), São Paulo: USP, →DOI, page 414

• pirarukú

Cognate with Guaraní Kurupi.

• IPA^(key): [ku.ɾuˈpi.ɾa]
• Rhymes: -iɾa
• Hyphenation: Ku‧ru‧pi‧ra

Kurupira

1. An entity of the Tupian mythology that would kill people wandering in the forests.
   • [1560 May, Joseph of Anchieta, Ao Padre Geral, de São Vicente (in Portuguese), Captaincy of São Vicente; republished as chapter X, in Júlio Afrânio Peixoto, compiler, Cartas, informações, fragmentos historicos e sermões [Letters, information, historical fragments and sermons] (Cartas jesuiticas; 3), Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1933, page 128:

     E' cousa sabida e pela bôca de todos corre que ha certos demonios, a que os Brasis chamam corupira, que acometem aos Indios muitas vezes no mato, dão-lhes de açoites, machucam-os e matam-os. […] Por isso, costumam os Indios deixar em certo caminho […] penas de aves, abanadores, flechas e outras cousas semelhantes, como uma especie de oblação, rogando fervorosamente aos curupiras que não lhes façam mal.

     It's a know thing going from mouth to mouth that there are some demons, called “Kurupira” by the Natives, that many times attack the Natives in the forest, hitting, hurting and killing them. Because of that, the Natives are used to leaving behind on certain paths bird feathers, fans, arrows and other similar things, as some kind of oblation, fervently begging the “Kurupira” to not harm them.]

   • 1618, Antônio de Araújo, chapter VI, in Cateciſmo na Lingoa Braſilica [Catechism in the Brazilian Language], Livro Sexto do Confessionário [… ] (overall work in Old Tupi, Portuguese, and Latin), Lisbon: Pedro Crasbeeck, page 102v:

     28.p.Erecîquîjpe Anhanga, tagoaîba, curupira Iarupari, coipoteõ abáçupe?

     [Eresykyîpe Anhanga, Tagûaíba, Kurupira, Îurupari koîpó te'õ abá supé?]

     Had you summoned Anhanga, Taguaíba, Curupira, Jurupari or the death of someone?

Contemporary sources don't mention the Kurupira having backward feet nor hair made of fire, which are key characteristics of the current version of the myth in Brazil.

• Nheengatu: Kurupira
• → Brazilian Portuguese: Curupira

• Eduardo de Almeida Navarro (2013) “Kurupira”, in Dicionário de tupi antigo: a língua indígena clássica do Brasil [Dictionary of Old Tupi: The Classical Indigenous Language of Brazil] (overall work in Portuguese), São Paulo: Global, →ISBN, page 245, column 1