favela

noun

fa·​ve·​la fə-ˈve-lə 

variants or less commonly favella

: a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on the outskirts of a Brazilian city

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

In a flimsy wooden structure in a small favela on the outer edges of São Paulo, a kitchen, bed, and television occupy the same room. —Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 28 Oct. 2022

Gang leaders in Manguinhos also paved over some of the lettuce to create more space for the favela’s popular outdoor funk parties, known as Baile Funk, Mr. Barros said. —Samantha Pearson, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022

Silva was one of the first to settle in the favela known as the Nova Vitoria Esperança community six years ago. —Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 28 Oct. 2022

But many of the favela’s residents couldn’t care less if the vegetables are organic or particularly nutritious. —Samantha Pearson, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022

In May, a police raid on another Rio favela killed 23 people, and last year, a shootout in a third slum left at least 29 people dead. —Marina Lopes, Washington Post, 22 July 2022

Farther afield, Werllayne Nunes realistically paints an exuberant girl in front of a Brazilian favela transformed from slum to wonderland by the insertion of fanciful gold-leaf domes. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 June 2022

Elza Gomes da Conceição was born in a Rio favela, or slum, known as Moça Bonita on June 23, 1930. —Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2022

Most of the favela and low-income population in Brazil depend entirely on the SUS for health care, and many middle-class citizens use SUS for routine vaccinations and emergency care. —Claudio Araujo, Scientific American, 18 May 2022

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above