ruivo

Ruivo is a Portuguese word that serves as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes something with a reddish color, most commonly hair color; when referring to people, ruivo (masculine) and ruiva (feminine) describe someone with red hair. As a noun, o ruivo or a ruiva can refer to a person with red hair.

Origin and forms: The term derives from Latin ruber meaning red and developed in Old Portuguese with the suffix -ivo to form adjectives. The standard gender forms are ruivo (masc.), ruiva (fem.), with plurals ruivos and ruivas.

Usage and notes: Ruivo is also a common surname in Portuguese-speaking countries, including Portugal and Brazil. In toponymy, the form appears in place names such as Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on Madeira, Portugal, where the name likely reflects a reddish aspect of the rocks or vegetation in the area. The word is widely understood in both everyday language and literature to denote red hair or reddish coloration, with gender and number agreement guiding its use in sentences.