favela

noun

fa·​ve·​la fə-ˈve-lə How to pronounce favela (audio)
variants or less commonly favella
Synonyms of favelanext
: a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on the outskirts of a Brazilian city

Examples of favela in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There's also the time he got lost in a favela in Brazil with a carful of German fans. Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 The soccer fans have had to at least once interrupt a game due to a police operation in the favela. ABC News, 4 June 2026 The sport is deeply ingrained in everyday life, from the favelas to the beaches to the Maracana Stadium. Michelle Kaufman may 29, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 De Jesus describes her life in the 1950s as a waste picker in the Canindé favela in São Paulo, Brazil. Roberto Prieto, Variety, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for favela

Word History

Etymology

Brazilian Portuguese favela, perhaps from Favela, hill outside Rio de Janeiro

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of favela was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Favela.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favela. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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