brigadeiro

From brigada +‎ -eiro, perhaps as an adaptation of French brigadier. The most common theory concerning the confection is that it was invented and named in honour of Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes by supporters of his presidential candidacy.

• Rhymes: -ejɾu, -eɾu, -ɐjɾu
• Hyphenation: bri‧ga‧dei‧ro

brigadeiro m (plural brigadeiros, feminine brigadeira, feminine plural brigadeiras)

1. (military) brigadier (commander of a brigade)
   1. (air force) ellipsis of brigadeiro do ar
   2. in the Portuguese army, the rank between colonel and general
   3. (historical) a rank above colonel and below field marshal
   4. used as a translation for English brigadier, French brigadier and other cognates

brigadeiro m (plural brigadeiros)

2. A traditional Brazilian chocolate truffle made from condensed milk, cocoa powder and either butter or margarine, rolled into a small ball and cooked, traditionally covered with chocolate sprinkles and served in a small paper cup.

   Synonym: (Rio Grande do Sul) negrinho

   Coordinate terms: beijinho, bicho de pé, cajuzinho, casadinho, olho de sogra, quindim

   Aqueles brigadeiros de sua festa foram uma delícia! ― Those brigadeiros from your birthday party were delicious!

3. (by extension) The brigadeiro mixture, but without being rolled into a ball.

   O bolo dela tinha cobertura de brigadeiro. ― Her birthday cake had chocolate ganache frosting.

• “brigadeiro”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025
• “brigadeiro”, in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2025
• “brigadeiro”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025
• “brigadeiro”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2025