favella

Italian

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /faˈvɛl.la/, [fäˈvɛl̺l̺ä]
  • Rhymes: -ɛlla
  • Hyphenation: fa‧vèl‧la

Etymology 1

Back-formation from favellare (“to speak, talk”).

Noun

favella f (plural favelle)

  1. (uncountable) speech (ability)
    L'uomo ha il dono della favella. ― Man has the gift of speech.
  2. speech, utterance
    • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno [The Divine Comedy: Hell] (paperback), 12th edition, Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto XVIII, lines 52–54, page 270:
      […] Mal volontier lo dico; ¶ ma sforzami la tua chiara favella, ¶ che mi fa sovvenir del mondo antico.
      Unwillingly I tell it; but forces me thine utterance distinct, which makes me recollect the ancient world.
  3. (literary) language, tongue
    L'italica favella. ― The Italian language.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

favella

  1. third-person singular present indicative of favellare
  2. second-person singular imperative of favellare

Romansch

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin fabella, diminutive of fābula, or from a derivative of Vulgar Latin *fabellāre.

Noun

favella f (plural favellas)

  1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Puter, Vallader, poetic) language

Usage notes

Implies a strong emotional attachment. Used almost exclusively to refer to Romansch itself.

Synonyms
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