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Pernambuco

American  
[pur-nuhm-byoo-koh, -boo-, per-nahm-boo-koo] / ˌpɜr nəmˈbju koʊ, -ˈbu-, ˌpɛr nɑmˈbu kʊ /

noun

  1. a state in northeastern Brazil. 38,000 sq. mi. (98,420 sq. km). Recife.

  2. former name of Recife.


Pernambuco British  
/ pernəmˈbuku, ˌpɜːnəmˈbjuːkəʊ /

noun

  1. a state of NE Brazil, on the Atlantic: consists of a humid coastal plain rising to a high inland plateau. Capital: Recife. Pop: 8 084 667 (2002). Area: 98 280 sq km (37 946 sq miles)

  2. the former name of Recife

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The lyrics of the song recount Lula's poor childhood in rural Pernambuco, his move to Sao Paulo, his union activism, and social policies implemented under his different administrations.

From Barron's Feb. 3, 2026

Learning that they were both originally from Brazil’s northeast — Moura from the state of Bahia and Mendonça Filho from Pernambuco — served as an immediate point of connection.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 3, 2025

He is believed to have died six days after their arrest, at a military facility in the nearby state of Pernambuco.

From BBC Jan. 11, 2025

His new solo record, “Y’Y,” out Friday, sees him travel out of Pernambuco and into the Amazon, where the sounds of birds, water and rustling leaves lend themselves to polyrhythmic compositions reminiscent of the rainforest.

From New York Times Feb. 28, 2024

And as the Dutch and Portuguese battled to control Pernambuco, many Africans escaped and created a kingdom of their own called Palmares.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

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