How to Pronounce Dilma Rousseff

Meaning and Context

Dilma Rousseff is a seminal figure in modern Brazilian history, renowned as the nation's first female president, serving from January 1, 2011, until her impeachment and removal from office on August 31, 2016. A trained economist and former guerrilla fighter against Brazil's military dictatorship, her rise to power was closely tied to the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, or PT) and the legacy of her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Her presidency was defined by ambitious social programs like "Minha Casa, Minha Vida," significant infrastructure investments ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, and a subsequent severe economic recession and political crisis. The impeachment process, centered on allegations of fiscal manipulation known as "pedaladas fiscais," remains a deeply polarizing event in Brazilian politics, symbolizing broader struggles over corruption, economic policy, and executive authority. Rousseff's career encapsulates key themes of 21st-century South American governance, including the pink tide, the challenges of commodity-dependent economies, and the groundbreaking role of women in leadership in Latin America.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard Portuguese spelling is "Dilma Rousseff," with a double 's' and double 'f'. Common misspellings and variations often arise from phonetic interpretations or confusion with similar names. These include "Dilma Rouseff" (single 's'), "Dilma Rousself" (incorrect double 'l'), and "Dilma Roussef" (single 'f'). The accentuation in her first name is sometimes incorrectly written as "Dílma," though it carries no accent in Portuguese. In non-Portuguese contexts, her surname is occasionally anglicized or misspelled as "Roussef" or "Russef." It is also important to note the correct order: "Dilma" is her first name and "Rousseff" her surname; referring to her as simply "Rousseff" is standard in subsequent mentions, while "President Rousseff" is the formal title.

Example Sentences

Following her impeachment, Dilma Rousseff maintained her political activism, becoming a vocal critic of the administrations that succeeded her.

Many analysts argue that the economic policies of the Rousseff administration initially extended the growth of the Lula years but later contended with global headwinds and domestic fiscal pressures.

As a symbol of resilience, Rousseff's journey from political prisoner to president continues to inspire debates about democracy and justice in Brazil.

Her memoir provides a detailed, first-hand account of the impeachment proceedings from her perspective.

International observers often cite the Rousseff presidency as a case study in the complexities of governing a large, diverse democracy during times of economic transition.

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