Deutschbrasilianer (in German), teuto-brasileiro (in Portuguese), or German-Brazilian (in English) basically is a person of German origin (i.e. of that language, one of its dialect, nationality, place of origin or ethnicity) who is native to southern Brazil (and to some extent also existent in some other regions of the country, like in the state of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and others.) However, most German-Brazilians do live in the southernmost states of Brazil, namely in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná.

Riograndenser Hunsrückisch is the Brazilian variety of the Hunsrückisch dialect (an European German dialect) that best represents, al least in terms of total numbers, the German speaking regional culture of southern Brazil. Notably, other German dialects became part of the southern Brazilian cultural/regionalist landscape. For example Plautdietsch/Pommersch (or Pomeranian) and Swabian (or Schwabisch ) amongst many others.

When Germanic immigrants first arrived in Brazil starting at the beginning of the 1800's they did not identify themselves so much as a unified German-Brazilian group. However, as time went on this common regional identity did emerge for many different geo-socio-political reasons. Germans immigrated from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Russia.

During World War II the government of Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas initiated a strict program of forced cultural assimilation - Nacionalismo - that worked quite efficiently, if not initially.

Today, in 2004, the southern Brazilian German regional language/culture is in full decline. Some decry it as a tragic loss for to the country while others feel very strongly that this means national progress.

According to various recent and past estimates the present number of German speakers in southern Brazil is around three to five million.

Many Deutschbrazilianers went back to their ancestral homelands, while others went to other countries in search of a better economic opportunity. Most of them settled United States and Canada, where they are called German Americans and German Canadians respectively.

Details to note:

'Deutschbrasilianer' sometimes is also spelled 'Daitschbrasilaner', 'Deitschbralianer', 'Taitschbrasilianer', 'Taitschbrasiliooner' or 'Taitschbrasilioona', etc.

German as a regionalism in the south of Brazil is mostly a spoken, family and community language today. People tend to avoid speaking it in public and with persons outside of their closest social circles.

External Links:

Wir Deutschbrasilianer (a German article: "We German-Brazilians" (PDF))

Topicos (an Internet magazine published both in German and in Portuguese)