A slum or shantytown, especially in Brazil.
Used in a Sentence
favela
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for favela.
Editorial note
Reminds me of the story of Andre Camara, who photographed a favela drug war in the mid 80s.
Examples16
Definitions2
Parts of speech1
Quick take
A slum or shantytown, especially in Brazil.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of favela gathered in one view.
A surname.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for favela.
noun
A slum or shantytown, especially in Brazil.
noun
A surname.
Example sentences
Reminds me of the story of Andre Camara, who photographed a favela drug war in the mid 80s.
Suddenly that picture of a luxury condominium overlooking a favela is less hyperbole and more of an accurate depiction of what we're doing over here.
Your statement implies that a child growing up in the favela can merely decide their way out of it.
There are several prime cases of favela removal in Rio (Pinto, Catacumba, Esqueleto) in and around the 1960s and 70s.
Do you really want a world of 10 billion living in the conditions of Kolkotta, Bombay, Manilla, or a Brazilian favela?
If I attempt to serve an imaginary favela-dweller I'll end up with a product that doesn't suit them.
You will rent your favela mud hut and any dissent will be severely punished.
When I visited a pacified favela, the police unit walls were lined (50+) with large bullet holes.
Because, if you did, there'd be severe consequences, enforced by the favela bosses.
My boxset version had an eye-opening documentary about polici g the favela.
Most favela residents in the several favelas I've lived in are also divided as to whether it's actually positive or not.
All those sound plausible (having never been to a favela), and if true I agree with you on almost all counts.
Quote examples
For instance, there used to be something loosely known as "favela law" which meant that inside the favela one does not steal, cheat, harm or kill others who also live there.
The number of people living in hovels (they're called "cantegril" here in Uruguay and "villa miseria" in Argentina and "favela" in Brazil) that have LCD TVs is staggering.
That said, if I had to guess why we ended up with this abominable graphics, I believe that 30% of it is pure corruption, 40% is tasteless "let's make it look like a yunday" and the remaining is actually the desired "favela style".
Even São Paulo, which is the economic engine of the whole country, has such a contrast between rich and poor, and the "favela culture" is so spread, that it makes me want to leave this place and never come back.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use favela in a sentence?
Reminds me of the story of Andre Camara, who photographed a favela drug war in the mid 80s.
What does favela mean?
A slum or shantytown, especially in Brazil.
What part of speech is favela?
favela is commonly used as noun.