Dutch

Noun

carnaval n ‎(plural carnavals, diminutive carnavalletje n)

1. The carnival, last festive occasion(s) before Lent, notably on Shrove Tuesday
2. (within the southern Netherlands and Belgium, specifically) A festival celebrated with costuming, parades and other festivities, with a general emphasis on parody, jest and local tradition and dialect.

Synonyms

• (in some areas) vastenavond

Derived terms

• carnavalesk
• carnavalskostuum
• carnavalslied
• carnavalsmasker
• carnavalsoptocht
• carnavalsstoet

Related terms

• alaaf
• hossen

French

Etymology

Either from Italian carnivale, from Middle Latin carnelevale, from caro "flesh" + levare "lighten, raise" or directly from Middle Latin (the alternative carne vale "to flesh/meat, farewell" is believed folk etymology).

Pronunciation

Noun

carnaval m ‎(plural carnavals)

1. The carnival, last festive occasion before Lent, notably on Shrove Tuesday, marked by a masked parade and/or ball

Derived terms

• carnavaleux
• carnavalier
• carnavaliser

Portuguese

Etymology

From Italian carnevale ‎(“carnival”), from the Latin phrase carnem levāre, to put away meat.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /kaʁ.na.ˈvaw/
• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /kaɻ.na.ˈvaw/
• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /kɐɾ.nɐ.ˈvaɫ/
• Hyphenation: car‧na‧val

Noun

carnaval m (plural carnavais)

1. carnival (festive occasion marked by parades)

Synonyms

• entrudo

Related terms

• carnavalesco

Spanish

Noun

carnaval m ‎(plural carnavales)

1. carnival

Related terms

• carnavalear
• carnavalesco