tabu

An older spelling of 'taboo', referring to something prohibited or restricted by social or cultural custom.

• 🇵🇹Palavra que designa algo proibido ou restrito por costumes sociais ou culturais; também se refere ao próprio objeto, pessoa ou assunto considerado sagrado e por isso interditado.

1. Forbidden or prohibited B2 formal

   Something that is banned or not allowed, especially due to religious or social customs.

   • In some cultures, certain foods are considered tabu.
   • The topic of death was once tabu in polite conversation.
   • The islanders regarded the sacred mountain as tabu.

   🇵🇹Tabu

   Sinônimos: bannedforbiddenoff-limitsoutlawedprohibitedproscribedverboten

   Antônimos: approvedlicitsanctioned

2. Excluded from use or mention B2 formal

   Something that is not to be discussed, used, or mentioned due to social or cultural restrictions.

   • The subject of his past was tabu among his friends.
   • Certain words are considered tabu in formal writing.
   • The ritual was tabu for outsiders to witness.

   🇵🇹Tabu

   Sinônimos: bannedforbiddenoff-limitsout of boundsprohibitedproscribedrestrictedunmentionableunspeakable

   Antônimos: acceptablepermissible

• more tabu comparative form
• most tabu superlative form

A noun referring to a social or religious custom that prohibits the use, mention, or association with something considered sacred, forbidden, or unacceptable.

• 🇵🇹Substantivo que designa um costume social ou religioso que proíbe o uso, a menção ou a associação com algo considerado sagrado, proibido ou inaceitável; também se refere a algo que é objeto dessa proibição.

1. Sacred prohibition B2 formal

   A prohibition or restriction in certain cultures, especially in Polynesia, that forbids the use, mention, or interaction with something considered sacred or forbidden.

   • In many Polynesian societies, certain places were considered tabu and could not be entered.
   • The islanders observed a strict tabu against eating certain fish during the ceremony.
   • Breaking a tabu was believed to bring misfortune to the entire community.

   🇵🇹Proibição sagrada

   Sinônimos: banforbiddanceinterdictprohibitionproscriptionrestrictiontaboo

2. Social or cultural ban B2 formal

   A social or cultural restriction that forbids certain actions, topics, or behaviors due to custom, emotional aversion, or moral standards.

   • Discussing personal finances is often a tabu in many social circles.
   • The topic of death remains a tabu in some cultures.
   • There is a strong tabu against speaking ill of the dead.

   🇵🇹Tabu

   Sinônimos: anathemabanforbiddanceinterdictionprohibitionproscriptionrestriction

   Antônimos: allowancelicencelicensepermissionsanction

• tabus plural form
• tabus' possessive plural form
• tabu's possessive singular form