Definition: AranhΓ£ is a Portuguese word that means "a poor or needy person." It comes from the word "aranha," which in its original form meant "bird" or "mammal." In Portuguese, it can also be translated to mean "child" or "soul" as in "a child of God." The root "aranha" is similar to the Latin root for "man," and the term has been used historically in religious contexts, especially for the poor.