Navio principal is a Portuguese equivalent of 'mother ship'. The masculine noun 'navio' means '[large, big] ship'. The adjective 'principal' means 'leader, main, principal'. Together, they're pronounced 'NAH-vyoo preen-see-pow'.*
The sound 'ow' is similar to the sound in the English adverb 'how'.
MOTHER in Portuguese is MÃE (sounds man-e)
Mother = mãe.
caravel
The Santa Maria ship was a Carrack also known as (Nao) which is portuguese for "ship."
"Feliz dia da mãe."
The Portuguese designed a class of small, maneuverable sailing ship called a caravel.
mother
The Portuguese designed a class of small, maneuverable sailing ship called a caravel.
Caravelas (carracks) and naus.
a caravel
caravel
Caravel