sertão

sertão (Brazilian semi-arid hinterland)

noun sehr-TAHN Rare

Origin: From Portuguese 'sertão' (hinterland, wilderness).

Usage Note

Sertão is a Portuguese loanword used in French to refer specifically to the semi-arid interior region of northeastern Brazil, known for droughts and a distinct culture. It appears mainly in geographic, literary, and journalistic texts about Brazil. The word is typically left in its original form in French without adaptation.

Examples

"Le sertão brésilien souffre de sécheresses récurrentes."

Natural Translation

The Brazilian sertão suffers from recurring droughts.

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