Crioulo

Crio lo is a Portuguese term with several related meanings in Lusophone contexts. It most commonly designates creole languages that developed from contact between Portuguese and local languages in Atlantic Africa and the islands. It can also historically refer to people born in the Portuguese colonial world, especially those of mixed European and local descent, a usage parallel to the Spanish criollo.

Etymology and scope. The word crioulo derives from the Portuguese sense of being locally raised or native-born in a colony. Over time it has acquired two broad senses: as an ethnonym for populations formed in the colonies, and as a label for Portuguese-based creole languages that emerged from linguistic contact between Portuguese and African, Indigenous, or slave-descended communities.

Usage and nuance. As an ethnonym, crioulo has colonial-era associations and its acceptability varies by region and context; in some places it remains an identity term, while in others it can be viewed as outdated or pejorative. In linguistic contexts, however, crioulo clearly denotes creole languages arising from Portuguese—languages that are natively spoken and have distinct grammars, vocabularies, and literatures.

Examples of crioulo languages. Notable examples include Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) spoken in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau Creole (Kriolu) spoken in Guinea-Bissau, and the creoles of São Tomé and Príncipe, such as Forro and Angolar. Other Portuguese-based creoles exist in the broader Lusophone world, including forms in Angola and Mozambique, though these vary in degree of standardization and prestige.

See also. Creole language, Lusophone Africa, Cape Verdean Creole, Guinea-Bissau Creole, São Tomé and Príncipe creoles.