In short
- Hapé, rapé and rapeh are the same thing. Only the spelling differs.
- You pronounce it "ha-PEH", with the stress at the end.
- The word comes from Portuguese, and before that from French: râpé, "finely grated".
- In English, always write rapé with its accent, or use hapé or rapeh.
- At Purity Healing we write rapé. On our sample sets you will also see Rapéh.
- Rapé is for adults only (18+).
Just imagine. You are sitting in a circle and someone asks softly: "Would you like some hapé?" At home you look it up. One website says rapé. Another says rapeh. And a bottle says something else again. Are these three different things? Or just one?
I am Kevin Lorenzini, ceremony leader and founder of Purity Healing. For about eight years I have had a bond with a Huni Kuin village in Acre, in the Brazilian Amazon. I get this question a lot. So here I calmly set it all out.
Hapé, rapé and rapeh: it is the same
Let's start with the most important thing. Hapé, rapé, rapeh and hapeh are the same. It is a fine plant powder from the Amazon. It has traditionally been used to find calm, to ground yourself and to deepen your focus.
The only difference is how people write it. Some write it the way they hear it: hapé. Others keep the Portuguese spelling: rapé. And others turn it into rapeh. There is a reason for that, especially in English. More on that in a moment.
Would you first like to know what rapé is exactly? Then read What is rapé?
Where does the word rapé come from?
Rapé is a Portuguese word. Most people in Brazil speak Portuguese. That is how the word came to be used for this powder from the Amazon.
The Portuguese word in turn comes from French. There, râpé means "finely grated". That fits well. Rapé is so fine that it feels almost like dust between your fingers.
The peoples of the Amazon have their own words for it, in their own languages. The name differs. The essence stays the same: a powder of plants and the ash of trees, made by hand and used with respect.
How do you pronounce rapé?
You say "ha-PEH". With an h at the start and the stress at the end.
Why an h, when it is written with an r? In Brazilian Portuguese, an r at the start of a word often sounds like a soft h. Think of the city of Rio. Brazilians say something that sounds like "Hio". It is the same with rapé.
So not like the English word without the accent, and not "ra-pee". Just say it calmly: ha-PEH.
Why the accent matters in English
This is the part that matters most for English speakers. Without its accent, the word reads in English as a completely different word, and a painful one. That is not a small spelling detail. It changes the meaning entirely.
That is why you see three solutions in English:
- Keep the accent and always write rapé.
- Write it the way it sounds: hapé.
- Add an h at the end: rapeh or hapeh. Then you see straight away that the final e is pronounced.
All three are neat and respectful. On a phone or keyboard without an é, hapé or rapeh is a good choice. What matters is that nobody stumbles over the word.
All spellings at a glance
- Rapé: the Portuguese spelling. This is the one we use.
- Hapé: written the way you pronounce it.
- Rapeh and hapeh: mostly in English. You can see at once that the final e is pronounced.
- Rapè: with the accent the other way round. Often just a typo.
Why does it say Rapéh on our sample sets?
On our sample sets you will read Four Rapéh's, Five Rapéh's and Nine Rapéh's. Those names are also meant for people outside the Netherlands. In our texts we simply write rapé. It is the same rapé.
Other words you will come across
Are you getting to know rapé better? Then you will come across a few more words. Here are the most important ones.
- Kuripe: a V-shaped applicator you use to give yourself rapé. Read more in The kuripe: the rapé applicator.
- Tepi: a long, straight applicator. With it, someone else gives you rapé. Read more in The tepi.
- Tsunu: a tree from Acre, and also the name of a rapé. Tsunu means ash.
- Strength: every Purity label shows a strength from 1 to 7. Higher is not better. It is a different character.
- Huni Kuin: "the True People". The people who make our rapé.
Why names matter
Sometimes you also read the name Kaxinawá. That name was given to the Huni Kuin by others. They themselves choose Huni Kuin. That is why we only use that name. You can read more about them in The Huni Kuin.
For me, pronunciation is part of that too. When you make the effort to say a word properly, you show respect. For the language, for the makers and for the tradition. It is a small gesture. But it feels right.
Frequently asked questions
Is hapé the same as rapé?
Yes. Hapé, rapé, rapeh and hapeh are the same. Only the spelling differs.
How do you pronounce rapé?
As "ha-PEH", with the stress at the end. In Brazilian Portuguese, an r at the start of a word sounds like a soft h.
Why should I write rapé with an accent in English?
Because without the accent it reads as a completely different English word. Write rapé, hapé or rapeh, and everyone knows what you mean.
What does the word rapé mean?
It comes via Portuguese from French. There, râpé means "finely grated". That suits the very fine powder.
Which spelling does Purity Healing use?
In our texts we write rapé. The sample sets say Rapéh, because those names are also for people outside the Netherlands. It is the same rapé.
Now you know how to say it, but not yet which blend suits you? Take the rapé guide, or take your time and look around.
