brava

Brava is a term with several uses, most prominently referring to Brava Island in Cape Verde. Brava Island is the southernmost inhabited island of the Cape Verde archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It is of volcanic origin and features rugged terrain with high cliffs and terraced agriculture. The island’s administrative center is the town of Nova Sintra. Brava has a small, mostly rural population and an economy based on fishing, agriculture, and increasingly modest tourism. Access is typically by ferry from nearby islands or by small regional air service.

The name Brava derives from the Portuguese and Spanish word for brave or bold. In Romance-language usage, brava is the feminine form of bravo and is commonly used to praise a female performer in opera or music, as in “brava!” The term also appears in various place names and surnames in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking regions.

Beyond Cape Verde, Brava is encountered in other Lusophone contexts as a surname and in the names of geographic locations. Its usage in geography and culture reflects the shared linguistic roots of Portuguese and Spanish-speaking communities. Overall, Brava denotes both a specific island and a broader set of linguistic and cultural associations tied to concepts of bravery and commendation.