Juma Lodge | Amazonian Glossary – Words and terms for those who will visit the Amazon Rainforest

Learn more about the Amazon and the Juma Lodge: a jungle hotel

Amazon Rainforest

Amazonian Glossary – Words and terms for those who will visit the Amazon Rainforest

In today’s post we would like to share with you some words and terms that we think are very important and relevant for those who want to know more about the Amazon Rainforest or are already planning a trip to the Jungle: It is the Amazonian Glossary.

The Amazon Rainforest Glossary

WORD	MEANING
ANGELIM	Also known as fava-de-bolota, it is a tree whose flowers are dark red.
AQUARIQUARA	Typical Amazonian tree, with a very versatile wood.
BABAÇU	Palm tree that produces small seeds which serve to the manufacture of cooking oil, much apreciated in the region. Its leaves are used for roofing.
CABOCLO RIBEIRINHO	Literally “native who dwells by the river”, is a descendent of local Indians who have a very peculiar way of life, thoroughly integrated to the Amazonian river system for food (fish and farming), transportation and other daily activities.
CARLOS GOMES	One of the greatest Brazilian maestros and classic music composer, lived in the 19th century and is the author of O Guarani, an internationally aclaimed masterpiece.
CIGS	Short for Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva, the Jungle War Instruction Center, as the name implies, an army base especialized in the training of soldiers for jungle warfare.
COTIA	A small rodent with brown fur, living on the flooded land. At dusk can be spotted eating fruits that fall from the trees.
ENRICO CARUSO	Considered to be one the greatest tenors of all time, had his carreer peak at the beginning of the 20th century.
IGAPÓ	Part of the Amazon rainforest that stays underwater during the rainy season, when the water level rises up to 15 meters.
IGARAPÉ	A creek inside the jungle.
ITAÚBA	A tree with thick leaves and a hard yellowish wood which produces a tasty blackberry type fruit.
JACAREÚBA	A tree with very hard wood and beautiful orange flowers.
LA TRAVIATTA	One of the most popular operas in the world, La Traviatta is considered to be Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece.
PIRANHA	A carnivorous fish famous for its ferocity. In the Amazon region are of small size.
PIRARUCU	Brazil’s biggest fish, can feed a family of 10 for a month and reach 200 kilos!
RUBBER BARONS	In the late 19th century, the price of the rubber has gone to heaven, turning a few traders into millionaires in Manaus. The sudden fortune resulted in the construction of many wonderful landmarks, such as the Opera House, the Customs Building, the Floating Harbour and the City Market. It is said that many of the rubber barons, as they were known, sent their clothes to be washed in Europe, just to show society its new status, which by the way lasted less than a decade.
TAMBAQUI	Harder to catch but more tasteful than the tucunaré, the tambaqui is usually fished in the middle of the region’s rivers.
TUCUNARÉ	A spotted fish very common in the Northern region of Brazil where it can be found in shallow waters in great quantity during the dry season. Its meat is much appreciated.