guarulhos: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (outside Brazil and specific travel/geography contexts)Formal/Neutral (as a proper noun)
Quick answer
What does “guarulhos” mean?
A major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, known for hosting São Paulo's main international airport.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, known for hosting São Paulo's main international airport.
A proper noun referring to a specific Brazilian municipality, often used metonymically to refer to São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both varieties treat it as a foreign proper noun.
Connotations
Neutral geographical reference. For frequent flyers, it connotes a major South American travel hub.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, encountered primarily in travel, logistics, and geographical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “guarulhos” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (functions as subject/object of location)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guarulhos” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not applicable as an adjective)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in logistics, aviation, and international trade contexts. 'The shipment is clearing customs at Guarulhos.'
Academic
Appears in geography, urban studies, or Latin American studies texts.
Everyday
Primarily used by travellers discussing flights to Brazil. 'Our connection is in Guarulhos.'
Technical
Used in aviation and air traffic control communications as a location identifier.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guarulhos”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guarulhos”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guarulhos”
- Mispronouncing it as 'Gwar-ull-hoss'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a guarulhos').
- Misspelling (Guarulhos, Guarulhos, Guarulhos).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a major city in the São Paulo metropolitan area. The airport is named after the city where it is located.
Approximately gwa-ROO-lyoos. The 'lh' represents a palatalized /l/ sound, similar to the 'lli' in 'million'.
Only if you are likely to travel to, do business with, or study Brazil. It is a low-frequency proper noun for most learners.
English dictionaries include significant foreign place names, especially those frequently encountered in international contexts like major airports or cities.
A major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, known for hosting São Paulo's main international airport.
Guarulhos is usually formal/neutral (as a proper noun) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GUARdian of the RULing HOSpitality' for São Paulo – it's the city that hosts (HOS) the ruling major airport, guarding the entrance to Brazil's business hub.
Conceptual Metaphor
GATEWAY (to Brazil, to São Paulo)
Practice
Quiz
What is Guarulhos best known for?