Colônia

Colônia is the Portuguese word for colony, derived from Latin colonia. In addition to its ordinary meaning, Colônia is used as a proper name in geography and administration, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries.

As a toponym, Colônia appears in the names of various municipalities, districts, and localities across Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions. The use of the name often reflects historical settlement, immigration, or land division patterns.

Colônia also refers to well-known place-name uses outside Brazil. In Brazilian Portuguese, Colônia is the common name for the German city Cologne (Köln). Colônia do Sacramento is a historic city in Uruguay whose name in Portuguese is Colônia do Sacramento.

Colônia stands apart from its Spanish cognate Colonia, though both derive from the same Latin root, and the accent marks reflect Portuguese pronunciation.