What is “chávena” in Portuguese, and why do Brazilians say “xícara”?

A cup with a handle, for coffee or tea, is a chávena in Portugal. In Brazil the everyday word is xícara. Both words exist in Portuguese and both appear in dictionaries on either side of the Atlantic, but each country has its default. Say chávena in Brazil and people will know you learned your Portuguese in Portugal.

Chávena is usually traced to Malay chavan or a Chinese source, a leftover from Portugal’s trade in Asia. Xícara came through Spanish jícara, from a Nahuatl word for a gourd bowl. The clip runs through a few more everyday pairs, including tiara (Brazil) vs bandolete (Portugal) for a hairband.