The
Nheengatu language (Tupi: ), often spelled
Nhengatu, is an
Amerindian language of the
Tupi–Guarani family. It is also known by the
Portuguese names
língua geral da Amazônia and
língua geral amazônica, both meaning "Amazonian general language", or even by the
Latin lingua brasilica (Brazilian language). Nheengatu originated in northern Brazil in the 17th century as a
lingua franca. Now known as
nheengatu (also
nhengatu,
nyengatú,
língua geral,
geral,
yeral), it is still spoken along the
Rio Negro in northern Brazil (as well as in neighboring
Colombia and
Venezuela).