attila
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Attila¹
- /əˈtɪlə/ US
Where it comes from
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.
proper noun
- A king of the tribes of Huns.
attila²
- /əˈtɪlə/
noun attilas
- A short, fringed cape worn as part of traditional Hungarian costume. In the Magyar costume, his heart beating more proudly under the national attila, he passed before the eyes of the peasants who had known him when a child, and had fought under his orders; and he spoke to them by name, recognizing many of his old companions in these poor people with cheeks tanned by
- Any of the tropical flycatchers of 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.
Translations
Talk about this word "attila." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/attila. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. attila. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/attila "attila." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/attila.Cite this
@misc{attila_2026,
title = {attila},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/attila},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
