babau

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin balbus. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [bəˈβaw]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [bəˈbaw]
• IPA^(key): (Valencian) [baˈbaw]

Adjective

babau (feminine babaua, masculine plural babaus, feminine plural babaues)

1. silly

Derived terms

• tortuga babaua

Noun

babau m (plural babaus, feminine babaua)

1. fool, idiot
2. (dialectal) bogeyman

Further reading

• “babau” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Italian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baˈbaw/
• Rhymes: -aw
• Hyphenation: ba‧bàu

Noun

babau m (invariable)

1. ogre
2. bogeyman

   Synonyms: castigamatti, spauracchio, orco

Occitan

Etymology

From Old Occitan baboe, babau, from Latin babalus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.ˈbaw/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

babau

1. stupid, idiotic

Synonyms

• bèstia
• nèci

Noun

babau m

1. bug, insect
2. (Coccinella septempunctata) seven-spot ladybird
3. bogeyman

Synonyms

• [1]: bestiona
• [2]: babau de Nòstre Sénher, buòu de Nòstre Sénher, catarineta, galineta, peperin, peperon, perdigoleta, pimparèla, volàguiraud

Derived terms

• babau de Nòstre Sénher

Old French

Noun

babau f

1. Alternative form of baboe

Old Occitan

Etymology

From Latin babalus.

Adjective

babau m

1. foolish, idiotic, stupid

Descendants

• Occitan: babau

Portuguese

FWOTD – 9 June 2013

Etymology

From Old Tupi mbau.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /baˈbaw/ [baˈbaʊ̯]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /bɐˈbaw/ [bɐˈβaw]

Interjection

babau

1. (Brazil) used when something is lost forever
   • 1999, Marceu Vieira, Nada, não: e outras crônicas, Mauad, page 68:

     O menino podia descobrir seu segredo, ficar enojado e aí babau _ as pretensões infantis de Heleninha iriam para o brejo.

     The boy could find out her secret, become disgusted and then babau _ little Helen’s childish pretensions would go down the drain.

   • Bernardo Élis, A enxada in 2006 (originally 1976), Alfredo Bosi, O conto brasileiro contemporâneo, Editora Cultrix, page 101:

     A notícia espantou o vigário que, em pessoa, acompanhado de Piano, revirou o porão da casa e rebuscou o quintal. Infelizmente, babau enxada!

     The news surprised the vicar who, in person, accompanied by Piano, combed the house’s basement and searched the backyard. Unfortunately, babau hoe!

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baˈbaw/

Noun

babau

1. Alternative form of baubau