Brazil Soccer Legend, ‘Pele’, enters dictionary as adjective for ‘unique’
Pele , one of the most iconic names in the world of football, arguably the greatest footballer ever, is now an adjective synonymous to ‘exceptional, outstanding, unique’
Popular Portuguese-language Michaelis dictionary in Brazil added “pelé” as a new adjective to its online edition.
This development comes after a campaign by the Pelé Foundation, the sports channel SporTV and the Sao Paulo football club Santos to honour the football star pooled more than 125,000 signatures
For the world’s 265 million-odd Portuguese speakers, “pele” can now be used to denote something or someone extraordinary — the sense in which it is already employed informally in Brazil.
The expression already used to refer to someone who is the best at what they do has been eternalized on the pages of the dictionary!” the Pele Foundation said on Instagram
Under the new entry, the word is defined as “exceptional, incomparable, unique” — qualities associated with “The King” of football who died in December at the age of 82.
The online version of the Michaelis also provides useful examples: “He is the pele of basketball… She is the pele of Brazilian drama.”
For now, the word has been included only in the Michaelis online version, though it will be added to printed dictionaries in future.
Pele scored a world record 1,281 goals during his more than two decades playing with Santos (1956-74), the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos (1975-77).
The name ‘Pele” is synonymous with skill, talent, and success on the field. Pele is a legend of Brazilian football and is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. The name Pele is not just a nickname but a moniker that carries a significant history and story behind it. In this essay, we will explore the origin of the name Pele and how it became the iconic name it is today.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, in the city of Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He grew up in poverty and began playing football barefoot on the streets. His father, João Ramos do Nascimento, was a former footballer who played for Fluminense and Vasco da Gama. João taught Edson the basics of football and supported his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.
As a child, Edson was given the nickname Dico by his family. The name Dico was a shortened version of his middle name Arantes. However, it was not until he was in school that he received the name that would later become his moniker. According to legend, Edson’s schoolmates gave him the name Pele during a football game. Pele is a nickname for the word “pé-de-pano,” which means “ragged foot” in Portuguese. The name was given to Edson because of the way he played football. He would kick the ball with such force that it would often tear the leather cover of the ball, leaving it ragged.
The origin of the name Pele has been a subject of much debate, and there are several other stories that claim to explain how Edson got the name. One story claims that the name Pele was given to him by a local football coach who was impressed by his skills. Another story suggests that the name was given to him by a Brazilian journalist who saw him play and was struck by his unique style.
Regardless of how the name came about, it became synonymous with the young footballer’s success. Edson began playing for local clubs at a young age, and it was not long before he was scouted by some of the biggest clubs in Brazil. In 1956, at the age of 15, he signed his first professional contract with Santos FC.
Edson’s career quickly took off, and he began to attract international attention. He was selected to play for the Brazilian national team in 1957, and he quickly became one of the team’s star players. His success on the field led to even more attention and recognition, and the name Pele began to spread beyond the borders of Brazil.
Over the course of his career, Pele played for Santos FC and the Brazilian national team, winning numerous titles and accolades. He is the only player to have won three FIFA World Cups, and he scored a total of 1,281 goals in his career, a feat that has never been matched. Pele’s success on the field and his iconic name made him a legend of Brazilian football and one of the most recognizable names in the world of sports.
Today, the name Pele has become synonymous with football excellence, and it is used to describe players who possess exceptional skill and talent on the field. The name has also become a brand, with Pele endorsing a wide range of products and services. Despite his retirement from football, Pele remains a cultural icon and a symbol of Brazilian pride and success.
