encontro

Encontro is a noun in Portuguese that denotes a meeting, encounter, or gathering of people, as well as the point where two things meet, such as rivers or roads. It can describe both planned meetings, like a business or social appointment, and spontaneous encounters. The term is widely used in Brazil and Portugal and appears in expressions such as “marcar um encontro” (to schedule a meeting) and “encontro de culturas” (meeting or merging of cultures).

It derives from the verb encontrar (to meet or to find), from Latin roots that conveyed coming upon or facing something. The noun carries the same core sense of coming into contact or convergence.

In everyday speech, “encontro” encompasses professional meetings, social gatherings, and dates. In geography, “encontro” can refer to the moment or place where two rivers meet (the confluence) or where paths join. In cultural or intellectual contexts, phrases like “encontro de ideias” or “encontro de culturas” describe a meeting or synthesis of different perspectives.

It is a masculine noun; plural “encontros.” It may appear as part of event titles or place names, but these uses are proper nouns and vary by region. Encontro thus functions as a flexible term for interpersonal, social, and spatial convergence, with broad applicability across everyday language, geography, and cultural discourse.