viajantes

Viajantes is the plural form of viajante in Portuguese, a noun that refers to a person who travels from place to place. The term can describe someone who journeys for leisure or exploration, as well as individuals who travel as part of their work. In everyday language it emphasizes movement and displacement rather than a fixed location, and it can apply to both individuals and groups.

Etymology and form: Viajante comes from the verb viajar (to travel) plus the agent-noun suffix -ante, a common construction in Romance languages. The word does not change form for gender, so viajante can refer to a man or a woman; the plural form is viajantes.

Usage and context: In general use, viajante denotes any traveler. In a professional context, it often appears as viajante de comércio or viajante comercial to designate a traveling salesman or sales representative who visits clients to sell products. The plural viajantes is used for groups of travelers, including workers who move seasonally or itinerant professionals.

Regional notes: The term is standard in both Portugal and Brazil. To emphasize a tourist, the word turista is typically used, while viajante foregrounds the act of moving between locations. Related cognates in Spanish include viajero, though pronunciation and usage differ between languages.

See also: turista; viajero; itinerante.