cordeles

Cordeles are cords or strings formed by twisting or braiding fibers. They can be made from natural fibers such as hemp, sisal, or cotton, or from synthetic materials like nylon or polyester. Cordeles vary in thickness and strength and are used for tying, binding, lifting, fishing lines, and general-purpose cordage.

In Brazilian Portuguese, cordel also designates a popular literary tradition, literatura de cordel. Originating in the Northeast in the 19th century, it appears as inexpensive booklets with woodcut covers. The verse is typically short, rhymed couplets that tell legends, biographies, historical episodes, romances, or social commentary. The authors, called poetas de cordel, perform in markets and fairs, selling the sheets suspended from strings or displayed on stalls.

Outside Brazil, cordel may simply refer to rope or cordage in Spanish-speaking contexts. The cordel tradition remains an enduring element of Brazilian popular culture, influencing music, theater, and visual arts.