Portuguese · Culture & Society
Religião
[/ʀeliʒiˈɐ̃w/]
Religion
Intermediatenoun · f
Definition
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, typically a personal God.
Crença e veneração de um poder sobre-humano, geralmente um Deus pessoal.
Example
O Brasil tem grande diversidade religiosa.
Brazil has great religious diversity.
Etymology
The word 'religião' comes from the Latin 'religio', meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie back', referring to the bond between humans and the divine.
How & Where It’s Used
'Religião' is mostly used in formal discussions about belief systems and ethics, as well as in spoken and written texts. It is recognized across various Portuguese-speaking cultures.
Cultural Note
Brazil has the world's largest Catholic population, but also has significant Protestant, Afro-Brazilian, and Spiritist communities.