cenários

Cenários is the plural of cenário, a Portuguese noun with several related meanings. In general, it refers to the backdrop or environment where events unfold, as well as to the broader context or setting for a situation. In theatre, cinema and television, cenários are the constructed settings—backdrops, props and scenery—that create the visual world of a production. In literature and everyday language, the term also denotes the setting or milieu of a narrative.

A second major use is in planning and forecasting. Cenários are hypothetical or projected sequences of events used to explore uncertainties and inform decisions. They are common in fields such as business strategy, risk assessment and climate science (climate scenarios). Scenario planning typically develops multiple plausible cenários to test resilience and strategy.

Etymology: cenários derives from the word cenário, from Italian scenario or French scénario, linked to the concept of stage and scenery in theatre.

Regional usage: Portuguese-speaking countries use cenários similarly, with regional stylistic differences between Portugal and Brazil. In both, the term covers the stage-design sense and the planning sense.

See also: set design, stage design, setting (narrative), scenario planning, climate scenarios, risk assessment.