façanha

façanha

Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Portuguese façanna, from Old Spanish fazaña[1], of disputed origin. Suggested derivations include:

• Andalusian Arabic حَسَنَة‎ (ḥasana) with influence of facer (“to do”), from Arabic حَسَنَة‎ (ḥasana, “good deed”)[2]
• from a form of facer (“to do”)[3], specifically:
  • Old Spanish faciana[4]
  • Vulgar Latin *facinus[5]
  • Vulgar Latin *facianea, reportedly attested as fazania[6]

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /faˈsɐ̃.ɲɐ/ [faˈsɐ̃.j̃ɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /faˈsɐ̃.ɲɐ/ [faˈsɐ̃.j̃ɐ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /faˈsɐ.ɲa/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /fɐˈsɐ.ɲɐ/

• Audio (Brazil)

  (file)

• Rhymes: (Portugal) -ɐɲɐ, (Brazil) -ɐ̃ɲɐ
• Hyphenation: fa‧ça‧nha

Noun

façanha f (plural façanhas)

1. feat, achievement; deed (rare or difficult accomplishment)

   Synonyms: feito, proeza

2. prowess (distinguished bravery or courage)

   Synonym: proeza

References

1. 1932, Antenor Nascentes, Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa, volume 1.
2. “hazaña”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
3. Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1911), “façanha”, in Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German)
4. Nascentes, citing the Diccionario de la lengua castellana por la Real Academia Española, 15^th edition (1925)
5. Nascentes, citing Francisco Adolfo Coelho, Dicionário manual etimológico da língua portuguesa (1890)
6. Nascentes, citing A. A. Cortesão, Subsídios para um dicionário completo (histórico-etimológico) da língua portuguesa (1900)