The origin of the word "capoeira" is as shrouded in mystery as the origin of the art itself. Overall, there are three possible definitions and etymologies of the word capoeira - one Tupi-Guarani, one Portuguese, and one African. Each etymology contains a corresponding theory about the association of the word "capoeira" with the dance-fight-game.

Tupi-Guarani: Nascent underbrush growing on an area of recently cleared scrubland. From caá or kaá [underbrush] + coêra, poêra or puêra [a form of the past tense that says that the current underbrush is not the one that it used to be; i.e. the scrubland was cleared and then reborn]. The theory is that slaves played capoeira in the scrubland, and that escaped slaves fleeing from the capitães-do-mato (officers sent to recapture them) hid in the underbrush and even used capoeira to defeat the slave hunters.

Portuguese: Big basket or cage in which capons and other birds are kept. From capão [capon, a male chicken castrated when young] + the suffix eira. This etymology suggests that slaves bringing cages of birds to sell at the market used to pass their time there by playing capoeira.

African: From the Kikongo word kipula or kipura. In the cultural context of the Congo, these words referred to sweeping ground movements used in martial arts. The connection of this etymology to capoeira is through the movements, since the art of capoeira uses many ground movements and sweeps.