babbo

See also: Babbo

Italian

Etymology 1

From Vulgar Latin *bábbọ, accusative-ablative form of *bábbọs, childish term of onomatopoeic origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbab.bo/
• Rhymes: -abbo
• Hyphenation: bàb‧bo

Noun

babbo m (plural babbi)

1. (regional, central Italy, Florentine, informal) dad, daddy

   Synonyms: padre, papà

   • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno [The Divine Comedy: Hell], 12th edition (paperback), Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto XXXII, page 471, lines 7–9:

     ché non è impresa da pigliare a gabbo ¶ discriver fondo a tutto l'universo, ¶ né da lingua che chiami mamma o babbo.

     For 'tis no enterprise to take in jest, ¶ to sketch the bottom of all the universe, ¶ nor for a tongue that cries for Mom or Dad.

Derived terms

• Babbo Natale

See also

• mamma

Etymology 2

From Sicilian babbu. Doublet of babbeo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbab.bɔ/
• Hyphenation: bàb‧bo

Adjective

babbo (see below for inflection, superlative troppo babbo, augmentative babbazzo, endearing babbùzzo, diminutive-endearing babbicello)

1. (regional, southern Italy, Sicily, informal) silly, stupid, dumb

Derived terms

• abbabbiare
• babbiare
• babbitudine

 

See also

• scimunito