barafunda

Portuguese

Etymology

Unknown. Hypothetical derivations include^[1]:

Hebrew בָּרוּךְ הַבָּא (barúkh habá), a greeting used by Jews;
Latin Berecynthia, a goddess whose feasts were accompanied by orgies;
influence of confundir (“to confuse”).

Compare Spanish barahúnda.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ba.ɾaˈfũ.dɐ/
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ba.ɾaˈfũ.da/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /bɐ.ɾɐˈfũ.dɐ/

Noun

barafunda f (plural barafundas)

swarm (a mass of people or animals in turmoil)
Synonyms: enxame, turba, turbamulta, turbilhão, tropel, roda-viva

References

^ Antenor Nascentes (1955) “barafunda”, in Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa [Portuguese language etymological dictionary] (in Portuguese), 2nd edition, volume I, Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Acadêmica, page 62, column 2