acolhedora

Acolhedora is the feminine form of the Portuguese adjective acolhedor. It describes people, places or environments that convey warmth and hospitality to others. The term is widely used in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. As an adjective, acolhedora agrees in gender with the noun it modifies: uma pessoa acolhedora; uma casa acolhedora; uma cidade acolhedora; um ambiente acolhedor. The masculine counterpart is acolhedor.

The word is common in everyday speech and in writing about social relations, tourism and hospitality. In marketing and travel writing, a "cidade acolhedora" or "lugar acolhedor" signals a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. In personal description, it's typical to say "ela é uma pessoa acolhedora" to emphasize friendliness and openness.

Etymology: acolhedora derives from the verb acolher, with the agentive suffix -dor/-ora forming adjectives and nouns that express the quality or capability. The concept emphasizes warmth, receptivity and inclusiveness rather than formality.

See also: hospitality, warmth, friendliness.