odara

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Yoruba ó dára (“it is good”). Originally a term from the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomblé and Umbanda. It was significantly popularized by the Caetano Veloso song Odara, from his 1977 album Bicho.

Some sources claim the word derives from unspecified “Hindu culture”. This is unlikely given the context explained above.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /oˈda.ɾɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /oˈda.ɾɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /oˈda.ɾa/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɔˈda.ɾɐ/ [ɔˈða.ɾɐ]

• Rhymes: -aɾɐ
• Hyphenation: o‧da‧ra

Adjective

odara (invariable)

1. (Brazil, informal) generally good, positive

   Near-synonyms: supimpa; see also Thesaurus:bom

   • 1977, Caetano Veloso (lyrics and music), “Odara”, in Bicho, Phonogram:

     Deixe eu dançar / Pro meu corpo ficar odara / Minha cara / Minha cuca ficar odara

     Let me dance / So my body can be swell / My face / The top of my head remain swell

Further reading

• “odara”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2025
• “odara”, in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2025
• “odara”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025
• “odara”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2025
• “odara” in Enciclopédia Significados (2011).