'Brazilian' originates from English, specifically formed from the place-name 'Brazil' (from Portuguese 'Brasil'), where the suffix '-ian' meant 'belonging to or relating to'.

'Brazilian' developed from the place-name 'Brazil'. The English name 'Brazil' came into use via Portuguese 'Brasil', which itself derived from 'pau-brasil' (literally 'brazilwood'); 'pau-brasil' referred to the red dye-producing wood, ultimately linked to Portuguese 'brasa' meaning 'ember'. The adjective/noun in English was formed by adding the suffix '-ian' to the place-name.

Initially it referred to things connected with the land named after brazilwood; over time it came to mean generally 'of or from Brazil' and, as a noun, 'a person from Brazil'.