Belo Horizonte

1 5.5

A large city in southeast Brazil north of Rio de Janeiro known for planned streets and modern buildings

proper noun
/ˈbɛloʊ hɪəˈzɒrnteɪ/

: Belo Horizonte

The city of Belo Horizonte is renowned for its modern architecture and urban planning.

Examples

Many international firms have set up offices in Belo Horizonte due to its economic growth.
When traveling through Brazil, she spent two weeks exploring Belo Horizonte and its surrounding areas.
I visited Belo Horizonte last summer.
Have you ever been to Belo Horizonte?
The city of Belo Horizonte is renowned for its modern architecture and urban planning.
When traveling through Brazil, she spent two weeks exploring Belo Horizonte and its surrounding areas.
Many international firms have set up offices in Belo Horizonte due to its economic growth.

Surface Forms

Belo Horizonte main

Morphology

Belo + Horizonte

Although the components correspond to Portuguese words meaning roughly 'beautiful horizon', this is a lexicalized place name (toponym). A B1 learner who knows the literal meanings of the parts would not reliably infer the referential meaning 'a specific city in Brazil', so the expression is not transparently compositional for learners.

Etymology

Belo Horizonte gets its name from the Portuguese words belo and horizonte, which mean 'beautiful' and 'horizon'. People used this name because the place has a wide, pretty view of hills and sky, so the name 'beautiful horizon' reminds you of how the city looks.