English

Noun

favela ‎(plural favelas)

1. A slum or shantytown, especially in Brazil
   • (Can we date this quote?) The Week, Issue 601, page 8

     Nine people have been shot dead in Rio de Janeiro during a power struggle for control of one of the city's notorious favelas, or slums. - Nine killed in shootout.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Street Art, Foreword, page 8.

     The favela is now the model for most of the world's cities, as vast numbers of people continue to migrate to them in order to survive.

Portuguese

favela

Etymology

The slum sense is named after the tree. The first favela was founded by veterans of the War of Canudos on Morro da Providência (Providence Hill). That hill was similar to a hill where a battle took place during the war, which had many favela trees. The name of the tree probably comes ultimately from a diminutive of Latin faba. An alternative and less likely etymology may be favo +‎ -ela ^[1].

Noun

favela f (plural favelas)

1. a species of tree, Cnidoscolus quercifolius, native to northeastern Brazil.
2. (Brazil) slum (dilapidated neighborhood)

Synonyms

• (tree): faveleira
• (slum): (Brazil) morro, (Portugal) bairro de lata, (Angola) musseque, (Mozambique) caniço

Related terms

• favelado
• barraco, cortiço

References

1. ↑ http://www.infopedia.pt/pesquisa-global/favela

Romansch

Alternative forms

• (Rumantsch Grischun, Puter, Vallader) favella
• (Sursilvan) faviala
• (Sutsilvan) faveala

Etymology

From Latin fabella, diminutive of fābula.

Noun

favela f (plural favelas)

1. (Surmiran, poetic) language

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

• lungatg

Spanish

Noun

favela f ‎(plural favelas)

1. favela