Fortaleza
/foʁ.tɐˈle.zɐ/noun
A fortress, stronghold, or figuratively a source of strength, especially in Portuguese and Spanish.
Did you know?Fortaleza is the Portuguese name of Brazil’s coastal city, whose name reflects the fortification built there by the Dutch and later occupied by the Portuguese.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerǵʰ-
“A reconstructed root meaning “high” or “elevated,” sometimes connected with the idea of fortified heights; the deeper origin of Latin fortis is debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
fortis
“Strong, powerful, brave, or firm.”
Late Latin
Latin
fortitia
“Strength, fortitude, or a strong defensive quality.”
Medieval Romance
Romance
fortaleza
“A fortified place or stronghold, formed with the Romance abstract or quality suffix -eza.”
13th–15th Century
Old Spanish
fortaleza
“Fortress, stronghold, or physical and moral strength.”
Medieval Portuguese
Portuguese
fortaleza
“Fortress or fortified place.”
Modern Portuguese
Portuguese
fortaleza
“Fortress, stronghold, strength, or Fortaleza, the name of a Brazilian city.”