favelas
Rio hillside settlements
Favelas are densely populated informal settlements found primarily in Brazilian cities, characterized by makeshift housing, narrow passageways, and limited access to public services.
Originally built by poor residents on unoccupied land, often hillsides, these communities developed outside official city planning and property systems.
Though sometimes associated with poverty and crime, favelas are vibrant neighborhoods with distinct cultures, and many have become increasingly integrated into urban life.
The favelas of Rio de Janeiro have become tourist destinations.
Poor area of crude shelters
- shackCrudely built hut
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- ramshackleBadly deteriorated from neglect
patchwork · jerry-built · corrugated · brick · concrete · stacked · narrow · alleyways
Brazilian coastal metropolis
- São PauloBrazilian economic capital
- CopacabanaRio de Janeiro beachfront
- IpanemaRio de Janeiro beach district
- Christ the RedeemerBrazilian hilltop religious monument
Portuguese · tropical · Lula
Illegal distribution of controlled substances
- gangsOrganized criminal groups
- militiasCivilian defense forces
- police raidsSurprise law enforcement operations
- pacificationRestoring calm after conflict
shootouts · crossfire · territorial · armed · stray bullets · operations · occupation · fear
Afro-Brazilian celebratory dance
- baileDance in Spanish
- capoeiraBrazilian martial dance form
- street artIllicit public murals
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
hip-hop · MC · DJ · murals · dance · Carnival · percussion · artists
State of lacking necessities
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
squalor · underprivileged · marginalized · unemployment · overcrowded · disenfranchised · socioeconomic · food insecurity
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
self-reliance · entrepreneurship · improvisation · determination · grit · strength · community organizing · rebuilding
Residential area nearby
- solidarityUnity among allies
- familiesRelated people living together
- mutual aidCooperative community support
- collectiveJointly organized group
cohesion · support · tight-knit · residents · locals · street life · children · elders
Not controlled by rules
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- water accessAbility to reach waterways
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- gatoSpanish word for cat
unpaved · sanitation · drainage · flooding · landslides · erosion · garbage · waste
shantytown
Poor area of crude shelters
- shackCrudely built hut
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
ramshackle · patchwork · jerry-built · corrugated · brick · concrete · stacked · narrow · alleyways · rooftop
Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian coastal metropolis
- São PauloBrazilian economic capital
- CopacabanaRio de Janeiro beachfront
- IpanemaRio de Janeiro beach district
drug trafficking
Illegal distribution of controlled substances
- gangsOrganized criminal groups
- militiasCivilian defense forces
- police raidsSurprise law enforcement operations
pacification · shootouts · crossfire · territorial · armed · stray bullets · operations · occupation · fear · danger
samba
Afro-Brazilian celebratory dance
- baileDance in Spanish
- capoeiraBrazilian martial dance form
- street artIllicit public murals
graffiti · hip-hop · MC · DJ · murals · dance · Carnival · percussion · artists · musicians
deprivation
State of lacking necessities
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
hardship · squalor · underprivileged · marginalized · unemployment · overcrowded · disenfranchised · socioeconomic · food insecurity · child labor
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
survival · self-reliance · entrepreneurship · improvisation · determination · grit · strength · community organizing · rebuilding · recovery
neighborhood
Residential area nearby
- solidarityUnity among allies
- familiesRelated people living together
- mutual aidCooperative community support
collective · cohesion · support · tight-knit · residents · locals · street life · children · elders · networks
unregulated
Not controlled by rules
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- water accessAbility to reach waterways
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
gato · unpaved · sanitation · drainage · flooding · landslides · erosion · garbage · waste · unmapped
- Modern BrazilLula, PT, Lula da Silva, New Republic, democratic transition
- dwellingshouse, home, apartment, cabin, cottage
- BrazilRio, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Amazon River
- human geographycultural landscape, demographics, migration, demography, urbanization
- slumsslum, slums, shanty, shanties, shack
- urbanizationcity, urban growth, metropolis, urban sprawl, suburbanization
favelasgated communities
Enclosed neighborhoods with controlled access
affluent neighborhoods · mansions · penthouses · Beverly Hills · Ipanema
favelassubdivisions
Portions of a whole
gated communities · planned communities · housing projects · housing estates · public housing