English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

fado

FAH-doh

Fado (noun) means a style of melancholic Portuguese folk song, typically sung solo with guitar accompaniment. Example: “They listened to fado in a small bar in Lisbon.”

noun
1
A style of melancholic Portuguese folk song, typically sung solo with guitar accompaniment.
"They listened to fado in a small bar in Lisbon."
"Her grandmother used to sing fado about lost love and longing."

How to use fado

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA traditional, often sorrowful, style of Portuguese song about fate, longing, or lost love.

Easily confused with

Word forms

fados plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “fado” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They listened to _____ in a small bar in Lisbon.

Etymology

From Portuguese fado, meaning "fate," ultimately from Latin fatum — the same root as the English word "fate."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for fado

See all rhymes for fado →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fado” mean?

The word “fado” means a style of melancholic Portuguese folk song, typically sung solo with guitar accompaniment. In plain terms, a traditional, often sorrowful, style of Portuguese song about fate, longing, or lost love.

How do you pronounce “fado”?

“Fado” is pronounced FAH-doh (/ˈfɑːdoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “fado” in a sentence?

Here is “fado” used in a sentence: “They listened to fado in a small bar in Lisbon.”

What part of speech is “fado”?

“Fado” is a noun.

Where does the word “fado” come from?

The word “fado” comes from Latin. From Portuguese fado, meaning "fate," ultimately from Latin fatum — the same root as the English word "fate.".

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial