fofo

See also: fọfọ

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish fofo. Of expressive origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern) [ˈfu.fu]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈfo.fo]
• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈfo.fu]

Adjective

fofo (feminine fofa, masculine plural fofos, feminine plural fofes)

1. spongy

Further reading

• “fofo”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007

Ewe

Noun

fòfó (plural fofowo)

1. father
2. dad

Nias

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfofo/ [ˈfo.fo]

Noun

fofo (mutated form vofo)

1. bird (an animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs)

Hyponyms

Type of birds

• anöwö (“a giant mythical bird in Nias mythology”)
• borokoa (“white-breasted waterhen”)
• buyuwu (“coucal”)
• cimbao (“stork”) (Southern)
• cumbao (“stork”) (Central)
• fune (“green pigeon”)
• gaga (“crow”)
• katawaena (“swallow”)
• la'oro
• lamuhu (“owl”)
• magiao
• manu (“chicken”)
• marafadi (“dove”)
• miti-miti (“wren”)
• saraha
• susuwongi (“cuckoo”)
• to'ia (“woodpecker”)
• tumbao (“stork”) (Northern)
• tötöhua (“magpie-robin”)
• waru-waru

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeic.

Alternative forms

• fôfo (pre-reform spelling)

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfo.fu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfo.fu/

• Rhymes: -ofu
• Hyphenation: fo‧fo

Adjective

fofo (feminine fofa, masculine plural fofos, feminine plural fofas, comparable, comparative mais fofo, superlative o mais fofo or fofíssimo, diminutive fofinho)

1. spongy, fluffy, soft

   Synonyms: balofo, macio, mole

   Esse bolo é tão fofinho!

   This cake is so fluffy!

2. (informal) cute

   Synonyms: adorável, giro

   Aquele pinguim bebê é fofo demais!

   That baby penguin is too cute!

Derived terms

• bolo-fofo
• fofa
• fofar
• fofofauna

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔ.fu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔ.fu/

• Rhymes: -ɔfu
• Hyphenation: fo‧fo

Verb

fofo

1. first-person singular present indicative of fofar

Further reading

• “fofo”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2026, →ISBN
• “fofo”, in Dicionário Infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2026
• “fofo”, in Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisboa: Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, 2001–2026
• “fofo”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026
• “fofo”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026

Shona

Etymology

From Portuguese fósforo.

Noun

fófo class 9 (plural fófo class 10)

1. (especially Manyika) match (device to make fire)

   Synonym: machisi

Spanish

Alternative forms

• bofo

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfofo/ [ˈfo.fo]
• Rhymes: -ofo
• Syllabification: fo‧fo

Adjective

fofo (feminine fofa, masculine plural fofos, feminine plural fofas)

1. spongy

   Synonyms: esponjoso, mullido

2. flabby

   Synonym: lacio

Derived terms

• fofucha

Further reading

• “fofo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025