mestres

Mestres is the plural form of mestre, a Portuguese and Galician word meaning master, teacher, or skilled practitioner. The term derives from the Latin magister and is used across Portuguese-speaking cultures to denote someone who has achieved a high level of expertise, authority, or authority in a craft, art, or field. The plural mestres refers to multiple individuals who hold such status.

In practice, mestres may be teachers, artisans, leaders, or mentors. In capoeira, for example, a mestre is a senior master who has earned the right to lead a group, teach techniques, and preserve a lineage. Capoeira mestres often adopt distinctive names and play a central role in transmitting knowledge and tradition within the movement. Notable capoeira mestres include Mestre Bimba (Manoel dos Reis Machado), founder of Capoeira Regional, and Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha), a leading exponent of the Angola style.

Outside capoeira, mestre is widely used as an honorific for skilled professionals and teachers. In Afro-Brazilian religious and cultural contexts, such as Umbanda and related practices, the term can denote respected spiritual leaders or elder practitioners. In everyday use, mestre also conveys respect for experts in crafts, cooking, music, and other disciplines.

The word carries a formal or venerable connotation, and its exact use depends on community conventions and context. In contemporary Portuguese, mestres are recognized as guardians of tradition and expertise across diverse domains.