mato grosso: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Geographic
Quick answer
What does “mato grosso” mean?
A Brazilian state located in the central-western region of Brazil, known for its vast plains, wetlands, and agricultural production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Brazilian state located in the central-western region of Brazil, known for its vast plains, wetlands, and agricultural production.
Can refer geographically to the region's unique ecosystems (Pantanal, Cerrado), its cultural identity, or metaphorically to something vast, remote, or agriculturally productive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; it is a loaned place name. Spelling remains constant.
Connotations
For both, it connotes a distant, large, and perhaps frontier-like region of Brazil.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both variants, appearing mainly in geographic, environmental, or travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mato grosso” in a Sentence
[be/lie] in Mato Grosso[travel/export] from Mato Grosso[the state/region] of Mato GrossoVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mato grosso” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Mato Grosso region is sparsely populated.
American English
- We studied Mato Grosso agricultural patterns.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referenced in reports on agribusiness, soybean exports, and cattle ranching.
Academic
Used in geography, environmental studies, and Latin American studies discussing the Pantanal or deforestation.
Everyday
Mentioned in travel discussions about eco-tourism or the Brazilian interior.
Technical
Appears in agricultural, ecological, and climatological research pertaining to the Cerrado biome.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mato grosso”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mato grosso”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mato grosso”
- Incorrect capitalization (e.g., 'mato Grosso').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'the Mato Grossos').
- Misspelling as 'Matta Grosso' or 'Matto Grosso'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, that is the literal translation from Portuguese, but it functions exclusively as a proper noun for the state.
No. They are two separate, neighbouring Brazilian states. Mato Grosso do Sul was created from the southern part of Mato Grosso in 1979.
It's a major global producer of soybeans, corn, and cotton, and contains significant parts of the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes.
In British English, approximately /ˌmætəʊ ˈɡrɒsəʊ/. In American English, approximately /ˌmætoʊ ˈɡroʊsoʊ/.
A Brazilian state located in the central-western region of Brazil, known for its vast plains, wetlands, and agricultural production.
Mato grosso is usually formal, geographic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MAtTO Grosso' as 'Massive Thick Growth', linking to its vast, dense landscapes.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FRONTIER; A BREADBASKET; A WILDERNESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Mato Grosso' primarily?