Definition
A word; a unit of spoken or written language that carries meaning. Can also refer to one's promise or spoken statement.
Example
Ela não disse uma palavra durante o jantar.
Show translation
She didn't say a word during dinner.
Etymology
From Latin *parabola*, meaning "speech" or "parable," itself from Greek *parabolḗ* ("comparison, analogy"). The shift from *parabola* → *palabra/palavra* occurred across Iberian Romance languages, with the original theological sense of "the Word (of God)" broadening to any spoken unit of language.
Cultural note
In Brazilian Portuguese, *dar a palavra* ("to give one's word") is a serious social commitment — breaking it carries real reputational weight. The phrase *minha palavra* ("my word") functions as a solemn personal pledge. Also watch out for the false friend trap: English "word" in a promise context translates as *palavra*, not *palavra* in the linguistic sense exclusively — context does all the work.