paraula

Paraula is a noun in the Catalan language that means "word." It is feminine: la paraula; the plural is les paraules. The term denotes a single unit of language carrying meaning and is used in everyday speech as well as in education, linguistics, and literature.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin parabula, through Vulgar Latin and Old Catalan forms. It is cognate with Italian parola, Spanish palabra, and French parole, reflecting a common Romance origin.

Usage: In Catalan, paraula can refer to a spoken or written unit of meaning and appears in a variety of contexts, including lexicography, poetry, and rhetoric. Common expressions include en paraules simples ("in simple words") and paraules amables ("kind words"). The plural form is paraules, used with the definite article as les paraules.

See also: Catalan language; Word (linguistics); Spanish palabra; Italian parola.