noun

Attila

uh-TIH-luh

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Attila (noun) means a short, fringed ceremonial cape traditionally worn as part of Hungarian formal dress. Example: “The officer wore an ornate attila decorated with braided cord.”

noun

A short, fringed ceremonial cape traditionally worn as part of Hungarian formal dress.

"The officer wore an ornate attila decorated with braided cord."

Any of several tropical flycatcher birds in the genus Attila.

"In the scrubby woods that cover most of the Yucatan, suboscines such as the masked tityra, the bright-rumped attila, and the boat-billed flycatcher are all common." — Jerry Sullivan, Field & Street (1988)

"The bright-rumped attila is known for its loud, whistling call."

How to use Attila

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOutside its use as the famous Hun king's name, "attila" refers either to a traditional Hungarian cape or a group of tropical flycatcher birds.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: attilas

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The officer wore an ornate _____ decorated with braided cord.

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀττίλα (Attíla), of uncertain further origin. Traditionally thought to have been derived from East Germanic, such as a Gothic *𐌰𐍄𐍄𐌹𐌻𐌰 (*attila, literally “little father”), from 𐌰𐍄𐍄𐌰 (atta, “father”) + -𐌹𐌻𐌰 (-ila). Displaced native Old English Ætla. A more recent explanation by Bonnman-Fries (2025) suggests a Yeniseian origin, specifically an Arinic language. The proper name is explained as deriving from a Common Yeniseian adjective complex *atɨ-λa (“quite swift, quite fast”); see there for more. Compare also Bactrian Χιγγιλο (Khingilo), Brahmi 𑀔𑀺𑀗𑁆𑀕𑀺𑀮 (Khiṇgila), the name of a leader of the Alchon Huns, which could prove that the diminutive -ila is of Hunnic origin.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for Attila

gila lila vila Mila Leila Laila Twila Manila sheila Jamila tequila

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Attila” mean?

The word “Attila” means a short, fringed ceremonial cape traditionally worn as part of Hungarian formal dress. In plain terms, outside its use as the famous Hun king's name, "attila" refers either to a traditional Hungarian cape or a group of tropical flycatcher birds.

How do you pronounce “Attila”?

“Attila” is pronounced uh-TIH-luh (/əˈtɪlə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Attila” in a sentence?

Here is “Attila” used in a sentence: “The officer wore an ornate attila decorated with braided cord.”

What part of speech is “Attila”?

“Attila” is a noun.

How many meanings does “Attila” have?

“Attila” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, fringed ceremonial cape traditionally worn as part of Hungarian formal dress.