caminho
/kɐˈmiɲu/
Definition
A path, road, or route that leads from one place to another; also used figuratively for a course of action or way of doing something.
Example
Este caminho leva diretamente à praia.
Show translation
This path leads directly to the beach.
Etymology
From Latin *cammīnus*, itself borrowed from Gaulish *cammanos* ("path, way"), related to the Old Welsh *cam* ("step"). The word spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula via Vulgar Latin and is shared across all Romance languages — Spanish *camino*, French *chemin*, Italian *cammino* — reflecting the ancient Celtic road networks of Western Europe.
Cultural note
*Caminho* carries deep cultural weight in the Portuguese-speaking world. In Portugal, it evokes the famous *Caminho de Santiago* (the CamPortuguese stretch of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route), a journey walked by hundreds of thousands each year. Figuratively, Portuguese speakers frequently use *caminho* to talk about life choices — *seguir o seu caminho* ("to follow one's own path") is a common expression of personal direction and independence. In Brazil, *caminho* can also informally refer to a truck (*caminhão* is the augmentative), so be aware of context.