candonga

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɐ̃ˈdõ.ɡɐ/

• Rhymes: -õɡɐ
• Hyphenation: can‧don‧ga

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Spanish candonga with the same meaning, or from Kimbundu kandonge (“weak love”), from ka- (diminutive suffix) +‎ ndonge (“love”).

Noun

candonga f (plural candongas) (slang)

1. flattery, adulation

   Synonyms: lisonja f, bajulação f

2. trickery

   Synonyms: ardil m, artimanha f

3. gossip

   Synonyms: intriga f, mexerico m

4. (Brazil) girlfriend

   Synonym: namorada f

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Kimbundu kandenge, from ka- (diminutive suffix) +‎ ndenge (“small, petty”).

Noun

candonga f (plural candongas)

1. (chiefly Angola) smuggling

   Synonym: contrabando m

2. (Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau) moonshine made from water, alcohol and syrup
3. (Guinea-Bissau) mixed means of transport (both for merch and passengers)

Derived terms

• candongar
• candonguice

References

• “candonga”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025
• “candonga”, in Dicionário infopédia da Lingua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2025

Further reading

• “candonga”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025