fado

noun

fa·​do ˈfä-(ˌ)t͟hü How to pronounce fado (audio)
ˈfa-
plural fados
: a plaintive Portuguese folk song

Examples of fado in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The coastal capital sees 4.5 million annual visitors, most of whom flock to the city for its fado music, historic ruins, winding old town, trams, not to mention those pasteis de nata. Fiona Kerr, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025 The neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto stay lively late into the night with fado music, good wine, and shared plates. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025 Born in Mozambique and based in Lisbon, Mariza is the reigning vocal queen of fado, the intensely dramatic Portuguese music style that is synonymous with her name. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025 The pastel buildings stacked up those hills, fado music spilling out of tiny bars at night, people who actually seem happy to help when you’re lost, were my beautiful introduction. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fado

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, literally, fate, from Latin fatum

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fado was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Fado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fado. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

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