ganani

Nheengatu

Etymology

Inherited from Old Tupi ganã, borrowed from Portuguese enganar (“to deceive”).

Verb

ganani

1. (transitive) to deceive; to trick
   • 1898 September 4, José Lourenço da Costa Aguiar, Christu Muhençáua […] (overall work in Nheengatu and Portuguese), Petropolis: Pap. e Typ. Pacheco, Silva & C., page 83:

     Ianê Iara Tupana u-hinhin cunhâ çupé: — Mahá tahá re-munhan iaué? Aé u-çuaxára: — Buia u-ganani ixé; xaúana.

     Our Lord God asked the woman: "Why did you do this?" She answered: "The snake tricked me and I ate it."

2. (transitive) to pretend (to make oneself appear to do something)
3. (intransitive with supé or arama) to lie to
4. (intransitive with esé or esewara) to tell lies about

Derived terms

• gananisawa
• gananiwera