reco-reco
C2Technical/Specialist; Cultural
Definition
Meaning
A Brazilian musical instrument, a percussion scraper, traditionally consisting of a notched gourd or bamboo tube played with a stick.
The distinctive rasping or scraping sound produced by the instrument; by extension, sometimes used metaphorically for a repetitive, grating noise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a lexical item specific to Brazilian Portuguese and the context of Latin American/Brazilian music. In English, it is used almost exclusively as a loanword when discussing world music or specific cultural traditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally obscure in both varieties; usage is confined to ethnomusicology, world music, and specific cultural discussions.
Connotations
Carries connotations of Brazilian culture, samba, carnival, and traditional folk music. No negative connotations inherent.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. An encyclopedic term rather than a part of active vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to play [the] reco-recothe sound of a reco-recoa reco-reco made of bambooVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology papers, cultural studies, and descriptions of world music instrumentation.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday English conversation.
Technical
Used precisely to identify a specific type of scraper instrument in musicology, percussion, and instrument manufacturing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The reco-reco part is essential to the rhythm.
- He specialises in reco-reco techniques.
American English
- The reco-reco section drives the song.
- She has a unique reco-reco style.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The musician played a strange instrument called a reco-reco.
- The distinctive rasp of the reco-reco adds texture to the samba ensemble.
- Ethnomusicologists note that the construction of the reco-reco, whether from gourd or metal, significantly alters its timbral qualities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound: REpeat the COugh, REpeat the COugh – 'reco-reco' – like a rhythmic, scraping cough.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INSTRUMENT IS A SCRAPER; THE SOUND IS A GRATING REPETITION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian prefixes like 're-' or 'ко-'. It is a single, indivisible loanword.
- Not related to the English verb 'recover'.
- Avoid literal translation attempts; it is a culture-specific noun.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it as 'reco reco' (without hyphen) is common but the standard form is hyphenated.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to reco-reco').
- Confusing it with the 'güiro', which is a similar but different Latin American scraper.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'reco-reco' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Brazilian Portuguese, used in English only in very specific cultural and musical contexts. It is not part of general vocabulary.
It is played by scraping a stick or metal rod back and forth across the notched surface of the instrument.
Both are scrapers, but a güiro is typically from Puerto Rico/Cuba and is often made from a gourd with parallel grooves, played with a comb-like stick. A reco-reco is Brazilian, often made of bamboo or metal with springy wires, and is sometimes shaken as well as scraped.
It would be highly unusual and likely misunderstood unless you were specifically discussing Brazilian music or world percussion instruments.