fa-la

[ fah-lah ]

noun

1. a text or refrain in old songs.
2. a type of part song or madrigal popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

fa-la

/ fɑːˈlɑː /

noun

1. (esp in 16th-century songs) a refrain sung to the syllables fa-la-la

Word History and Origins

Origin of fa-la¹

First recorded in 1585–95; special use of fa la, meaningless sound sequence found in old popular refrains

Example Sentences

Of the Muse it is most strictly and soberly true that "Bocca bacciata non perde ventura, anzi rinuova come fa la luna."

From Project Gutenberg

Later, a new third was superimposed and they dared the chord sol-si-re-fa-la.

From Project Gutenberg