lila

See also: Lila, líla, lilà, līlā, and L'Ila

Languages (30)

English

---

Asturian • Bavarian • Buginese • Catalan • Cebuano • Czech • Dutch • Fanagalo • Finnish • German • Hungarian • Indonesian • Makasar • Mandar • Polish • Romanian • Southern Ndebele • Spanish • Swahili • Swazi • Swedish • Tagalog • Ternate • Venda • Volapük • Xhosa • Yami • Zazaki • Zulu

---

Page categories

English

Etymology

Transliteration of Sanskrit लीला (līlā).

Noun

lila (uncountable)

1. (Hinduism) The play of god’s spirit manifested in the universe; divine play, creative spiritual energy.
   • 2015, Tridip Suhrud, translating Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, Sarasvatichandra I, Orient BlackSwan 2015, p. 11:

     His face shone with joy when he read good books, thought new thoughts, heard news about the country's welfare, or when God's lila filled his mind.

See also

• malanga lila (etymologically unrelated)

Anagrams

• Lail

Asturian

lila, Syringa vulgaris

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlila/ [ˈli.la]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: li‧la

Noun

lila f (plural lilas)

1. lilac, a large shrub of the genus Syringa
2. the flower of the lilac shrub

Further reading

• “lila”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1st edition, Academy of the Asturian Language [Asturian: Academia de la Llingua Asturiana], 2000, →ISBN

Bavarian

Etymology

From French lilas. Cognate with German lila.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɪ.lɐ/, /ˈliː.lɐ/

  • Audio:

    (file)

Adjective

lila

1. purple, violet (color/colour)

   Synonym: violett

See also

Colors in Bavarian · Foarbm (layout · text)

weiß	grau	schwoarz
roud/rod	oransch/orange; braun	gejb/gölb/gööb
	grea/grean
	blau	blau
lila, violett	lila	rosa

Buginese

Etymology

Compare Makasar lila.

Noun

lila (Lontara spelling ᨒᨗᨒ)

1. (anatomy) tongue

Catalan

Etymology

From lilà.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [ˈli.lə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈli.la]

• Audio (Valencia):

  (file)

Adjective

lila m or f (masculine and feminine plural liles)

1. lilac

Noun

lila m (plural liles)

1. lilac (color/colour)

See also

Colors in Catalan · colors (layout · text)

blanc	gris	negre
roig, vermell; carmesí	taronja; marró	groc; crema
verd llima	verd
cian; xarxet	atzur	blau
violat; indi	magenta; lila, porpra	rosa

Further reading

• “lila”, 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

Cebuano

Etymology

From Spanish lila, borrowed from French lilac, from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak), from Persian نیلک (nilak), from نیل (nil, “dark blue”), ultimately from Sanskrit नीला (nīlā, “dark blue”).

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: li‧la

Noun

lila (Badlit spelling ᜎᜒᜎ)

1. lilac, a large shrub of the genus Syringa
2. the flower of the lilac shrub
3. a pale purple, the colour/color of some lilac flowers

Adjective

lila (Badlit spelling ᜎᜒᜎ)

1. having a pale purple colour

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlɪla]

Participle

lila

1. inflection of lít:
   1. feminine singular past active participle
   2. neuter plural past active participle

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli.laː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: li‧la

Etymology 1

From French lilas, from lilacs, the plural of lilac.

Noun

lila n (plural lila's, diminutive lilaatje n)

1. lilac (color)

Adjective

lila (invariable, not comparable)

1. lilac

Declension

Declension of lila
uninflected	lila
inflected	lila
comparative	—
		positive
predicative/adverbial		lila
indefinite	m./f. sing.	lila
	n. sing.	lila
	plural	lila
definite		lila
partitive		lila's

Derived terms

• donkerlila
• lichtlila
• lila-achtig
• lilablauw
• lilabruin
• lilakleurig

Descendants

• → Indonesian: lila

See also

Colors in Dutch · kleuren (layout · text)

wit	grijs	zwart
rood; karmijnrood	oranje; bruin	geel; roomwit
groengeel/limoengroen	groen
blauwgroen/cyaan; groenblauw/petrolblauw	azuurblauw	blauw
violet; indigo	magenta; paars	roze

Etymology 2

lila

From Classical Malay ليلا (“lela, lila”).

Alternative forms

• lilla

Noun

lila ? (plural lila's, diminutive lilaatje n)

1. a small, even shoulder-portable type of (colonial?) field gun, notably used in the East Indies

Fanagalo

Etymology

From Zulu -lila, from Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

lila

1. to cry, to weep

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli(ː)lɑ/, [ˈli(ː)lɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ilɑ
• Syllabification^(key): li‧la
• Hyphenation^(key): li‧la

Adjective

lila (comparative lilempi or lilampi, superlative liloin or lilin)

1. alternative form of liila

Declension

Inflection of lila (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		lila	lilat
genitive		lilan	lilojen
partitive		lilaa	liloja
illative		lilaan	liloihin
		singular	plural
nominative		lila	lilat
accusative	nom.	lila	lilat
	gen.	lilan
genitive		lilan	lilojen lilain rare
partitive		lilaa	liloja
inessive		lilassa	liloissa
elative		lilasta	liloista
illative		lilaan	liloihin
adessive		lilalla	liloilla
ablative		lilalta	liloilta
allative		lilalle	liloille
essive		lilana	liloina
translative		lilaksi	liloiksi
abessive		lilatta	liloitta
instructive		—	liloin
comitative		—	liloine

Possessive forms of lila (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
Rare. Only used with substantive adjectives.
first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lilani lilani accusative nom. lilani lilani gen. lilani genitive lilani lilojeni lilaini rare partitive lilaani lilojani inessive lilassani liloissani elative lilastani liloistani illative lilaani liloihini adessive lilallani liloillani ablative lilaltani liloiltani allative lilalleni liloilleni essive lilanani liloinani translative lilakseni liloikseni abessive lilattani liloittani instructive — — comitative — liloineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lilasi lilasi accusative nom. lilasi lilasi gen. lilasi genitive lilasi lilojesi lilaisi rare partitive lilaasi lilojasi inessive lilassasi liloissasi elative lilastasi liloistasi illative lilaasi liloihisi adessive lilallasi liloillasi ablative lilaltasi liloiltasi allative lilallesi liloillesi essive lilanasi liloinasi translative lilaksesi liloiksesi abessive lilattasi liloittasi instructive — — comitative — liloinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lilamme lilamme accusative nom. lilamme lilamme gen. lilamme genitive lilamme lilojemme lilaimme rare partitive lilaamme lilojamme inessive lilassamme liloissamme elative lilastamme liloistamme illative lilaamme liloihimme adessive lilallamme liloillamme ablative lilaltamme liloiltamme allative lilallemme liloillemme essive lilanamme liloinamme translative lilaksemme liloiksemme abessive lilattamme liloittamme instructive — — comitative — liloinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lilanne lilanne accusative nom. lilanne lilanne gen. lilanne genitive lilanne lilojenne lilainne rare partitive lilaanne lilojanne inessive lilassanne liloissanne elative lilastanne liloistanne illative lilaanne liloihinne adessive lilallanne liloillanne ablative lilaltanne liloiltanne allative lilallenne liloillenne essive lilananne liloinanne translative lilaksenne liloiksenne abessive lilattanne liloittanne instructive — — comitative — liloinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative lilansa lilansa accusative nom. lilansa lilansa gen. lilansa genitive lilansa lilojensa lilainsa rare partitive lilaansa lilojaan lilojansa inessive lilassaan lilassansa liloissaan liloissansa elative lilastaan lilastansa liloistaan liloistansa illative lilaansa liloihinsa adessive lilallaan lilallansa liloillaan liloillansa ablative lilaltaan lilaltansa liloiltaan liloiltansa allative lilalleen lilallensa liloilleen liloillensa essive lilanaan lilanansa liloinaan liloinansa translative lilakseen lilaksensa liloikseen liloiksensa abessive lilattaan lilattansa liloittaan liloittansa instructive — — comitative — liloineen liloinensa

Noun

lila

1. alternative form of liila

Declension

Inflection of lila (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		lila	lilat
genitive		lilan	lilojen
partitive		lilaa	liloja
illative		lilaan	liloihin
		singular	plural
nominative		lila	lilat
accusative	nom.	lila	lilat
	gen.	lilan
genitive		lilan	lilojen lilain rare
partitive		lilaa	liloja
inessive		lilassa	liloissa
elative		lilasta	liloista
illative		lilaan	liloihin
adessive		lilalla	liloilla
ablative		lilalta	liloilta
allative		lilalle	liloille
essive		lilana	liloina
translative		lilaksi	liloiksi
abessive		lilatta	liloitta
instructive		—	liloin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of lila (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lilani lilani accusative nom. lilani lilani gen. lilani genitive lilani lilojeni lilaini rare partitive lilaani lilojani inessive lilassani liloissani elative lilastani liloistani illative lilaani liloihini adessive lilallani liloillani ablative lilaltani liloiltani allative lilalleni liloilleni essive lilanani liloinani translative lilakseni liloikseni abessive lilattani liloittani instructive — — comitative — liloineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lilasi lilasi accusative nom. lilasi lilasi gen. lilasi genitive lilasi lilojesi lilaisi rare partitive lilaasi lilojasi inessive lilassasi liloissasi elative lilastasi liloistasi illative lilaasi liloihisi adessive lilallasi liloillasi ablative lilaltasi liloiltasi allative lilallesi liloillesi essive lilanasi liloinasi translative lilaksesi liloiksesi abessive lilattasi liloittasi instructive — — comitative — liloinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lilamme lilamme accusative nom. lilamme lilamme gen. lilamme genitive lilamme lilojemme lilaimme rare partitive lilaamme lilojamme inessive lilassamme liloissamme elative lilastamme liloistamme illative lilaamme liloihimme adessive lilallamme liloillamme ablative lilaltamme liloiltamme allative lilallemme liloillemme essive lilanamme liloinamme translative lilaksemme liloiksemme abessive lilattamme liloittamme instructive — — comitative — liloinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lilanne lilanne accusative nom. lilanne lilanne gen. lilanne genitive lilanne lilojenne lilainne rare partitive lilaanne lilojanne inessive lilassanne liloissanne elative lilastanne liloistanne illative lilaanne liloihinne adessive lilallanne liloillanne ablative lilaltanne liloiltanne allative lilallenne liloillenne essive lilananne liloinanne translative lilaksenne liloiksenne abessive lilattanne liloittanne instructive — — comitative — liloinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative lilansa lilansa accusative nom. lilansa lilansa gen. lilansa genitive lilansa lilojensa lilainsa rare partitive lilaansa lilojaan lilojansa inessive lilassaan lilassansa liloissaan liloissansa elative lilastaan lilastansa liloistaan liloistansa illative lilaansa liloihinsa adessive lilallaan lilallansa liloillaan liloillansa ablative lilaltaan lilaltansa liloiltaan liloiltansa allative lilalleen lilallensa liloilleen liloillensa essive lilanaan lilanansa liloinaan liloinansa translative lilakseen lilaksensa liloikseen liloiksensa abessive lilattaan lilattansa liloittaan liloittansa instructive — — comitative — liloineen liloinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• lilanvärinen

Further reading

• “lila”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 3 July 2023

Anagrams

• -illa, Alli, alli

German

Etymology

From French lilas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈliːla/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈlɪla/ (regional; overall rather rare)

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: li‧la

Adjective

lila (indeclinable) or (informal)
lila (strong nominative masculine singular lilaner or (rare) lilaer, not comparable)

1. lilac, purple, violet (color/colour)

   Synonyms: fliederfarben; (at least in common usage) violett

Usage notes

• The adjective is usually treated as invariable in the formal standard language, thus neither declined forms nor comparative forms are used.
• In less formal style and in the vernacular, lila has normal inflected forms. An -n- is then infixed before (vocalic) endings. Additionally, it has also inflected forms without an infix. Compare the same in rosa.
• The adjective is usually considered not comparable.

Declension

Positive forms of lila (uncomparable)

number & gender		singular			plural
		masculine	feminine	neuter
predicative		er ist lila	sie ist lila	es ist lila	sie sind lila
strong declension (without article)	nominative	lilaner lilaer1	lilane lilae1	lilanes lilaes1	lilane lilae1
	genitive	lilanen lilaen1	lilaner lilaer1	lilanen lilaen1	lilaner lilaer1
	dative	lilanem lilaem1	lilaner lilaer1	lilanem lilaem1	lilanen lilaen1
	accusative	lilanen lilaen1	lilane lilae1	lilanes lilaes1	lilane lilae1
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der lilane der lilae1	die lilane die lilae1	das lilane das lilae1	die lilanen die lilaen1
	genitive	des lilanen des lilaen1	der lilanen der lilaen1	des lilanen des lilaen1	der lilanen der lilaen1
	dative	dem lilanen dem lilaen1	der lilanen der lilaen1	dem lilanen dem lilaen1	den lilanen den lilaen1
	accusative	den lilanen den lilaen1	die lilane die lilae1	das lilane das lilae1	die lilanen die lilaen1
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein lilaner ein lilaer1	eine lilane eine lilae1	ein lilanes ein lilaes1	(keine) lilanen (keine) lilaen1
	genitive	eines lilanen eines lilaen1	einer lilanen einer lilaen1	eines lilanen eines lilaen1	(keiner) lilanen (keiner) lilaen1
	dative	einem lilanen einem lilaen1	einer lilanen einer lilaen1	einem lilanen einem lilaen1	(keinen) lilanen (keinen) lilaen1
	accusative	einen lilanen einen lilaen1	eine lilane eine lilae1	ein lilanes ein lilaes1	(keine) lilanen (keine) lilaen1

¹Rare.

Derived terms

• Lila n

See also

Colors in German · Farben (layout · text)

Weiß	Grau	Schwarz
Rot (Purpur)	Orange; Braun	Gelb; Creme, Ocker
Grün (Hellgrün, Neongrün)	Grün (Dunkelgrün)
Türkis (Cyan, Meeresgrün)	Blau (Hellblau, Azurblau)	Blau (Dunkelblau)
Lila, Violett (Blasslila, Altrosa)	Lila, Violett (Magenta, Purpur)	Rosa; Pink

Further reading

• “lila”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎^[2] (in German)
• “lila” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “lila” in Duden online

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlilɒ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: li‧la
• Rhymes: -lɒ

Adjective

lila (comparative lilább, superlative leglilább)

1. purple, violet (color/colour)

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	lila	lilák
accusative	lilát	lilákat
dative	lilának	liláknak
instrumental	lilával	lilákkal
causal-final	liláért	lilákért
translative	lilává	lilákká
terminative	liláig	lilákig
essive-formal	lilaként	lilákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	lilában	lilákban
superessive	lilán	lilákon
adessive	lilánál	liláknál
illative	lilába	lilákba
sublative	lilára	lilákra
allative	lilához	lilákhoz
elative	lilából	lilákból
delative	liláról	lilákról
ablative	lilától	liláktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	liláé	liláké
non-attributive possessive – plural	liláéi	lilákéi

Derived terms

• lilás
• lilul

Compound words

• halványlila
• lilaakác
• orgonalila
• padlizsánlila
• püspöklila
• sötétlila

Expressions

• lila béka
• lila burgonya
• lila csenkesz
• lila dollármadár
• lila hagyma
• lila kardoskolibri
• lila kígyócsillag
• lila ökörfarkkóró
• lila pereszke
• lila pénzecskegomba
• lila skorpióhal
• lila tejelőgomba
• lila tengerisün

See also

Colors in Hungarian · színek (terms that are not originally color names are usually supplemented with színű (“-colored”) or the nearest color name; less common names are marked in small) (layout · text)

fehér	szürke	fekete
piros​/​vörös; karmazsin​/​bíborvörös	narancssárga; barna	(citrom)sárga; krém-/vajszínű
citromzöld	zöld	mentazöld
cián​/​kékeszöld; zöldeskék	azúr(kék)​/​égszínkék	kék
ibolya(sz.); indigó(sz.)​/​kékeslila	bíbor(sz.)​/​bordó; lila	rózsaszín

Further reading

• lila in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈlila/ [ˈli.la]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: li‧la
• Homophones: LILA, LiLA

Etymology 1

Unadapted borrowing from Dutch lila (“lilac”), from French lilas, from lilacs, the plural of lilac

Noun

lila (plural lila-lila)

1. lilac:
   1. a pale purple color, the color of some lilac flowers

      lila:  

      Synonym: ungu lembut (Standard Malay)

Alternative forms

• lilak

See also

Colors in Indonesian · warna (layout · text)

putih	abu-abu, kelabu	hitam
merah; kirmizi	jingga; cokelat, pirang tua	kuning; krem
hijau pupus, hijau limau	hijau	hijau pudina; hijau tua
nilangsuka, sian; hijau laut	biru langit, nilakandi	biru
lembayung; nila	patma; ungu	merah jambu, merah muda

Etymology 2

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

Noun

lila (plural lila-lila)

1. (archaic) small cannons made of copper or bronze

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Adjective

lila (comparative lebih lila, superlative paling lila)

1. dated spelling of rela

Further reading

• “lila”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016
• Pusat Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (1984), Daftar Istilah Warna [Colour Terms List] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia

Makasar

Etymology

From Proto-South Sulawesi *dilaq, from Proto-Austronesian *dilaq.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlila]

Noun

lila (Lontara spelling ᨒᨗᨒ or 𑻮𑻳𑻲, definite lilaya)

1. (anatomy) tongue

Descendants

• → Dhuwal: ḻirra (“tooth”)

Mandar

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *dilaq, Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dilaq, from Proto-Austronesian *dilaq.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lila/

Noun

lila

1. tongue

References

• Nadia Almira Sagitta (2016), Kamus Mandar-Indonesia‎^[3], page 16

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from German Lila.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli.la/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: li‧la

Adjective

lila (not comparable, no derived adverb)

1. lilac, violet (color/colour)

   Synonyms: jasnofioletowy, liliowy

   lila:  

Derived terms

adjectives

• liliowy

See also

Colors in Polish · kolory (layout · text)

biały	szary, popielaty	czarny
czerwony; karmazynowy	pomarańczowy; brązowy	żółty; beżowy
limonkowy, jasnozielony	zielony	miętowy; ciemnozielony
cyjan; morski	błękitny, jasnoniebieski	niebieski, ciemnoniebieski
fioletowy; indygo	magenta; purpurowy	różowy

Further reading

• “lila”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[4] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “lila”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[5] (in Polish)
• Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814), “lila”, in Słownik języka polskiego
• Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861), “lila”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861
• J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1900), “lila”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 1, Warsaw, page 741

Romanian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *neyH-der.?

Sanskrit नील॑ (nī́la)der.

Middle Persian 𐭭𐭩𐭫 (nīl)

Classical Persian نِیل (nīl)

Middle Persian 𐭪 (k /⁠-ak⁠/)

Classical Persian ـَک (-ak)

Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak)bor.

Arabic لِيلَك (līlak)bor.

French lilac

French lilasbor.

Romanian lila

Borrowed from French lilas.

Adjective

lila m or f or n (indeclinable)

1. lilac (color/colour)

Declension

Declension of lila (invariable)

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative- accusative	indefinite	lila		lila	lila	lila
	definite	—		—	—	—
genitive- dative	indefinite	lila		lila	lila	lila
	definite	—		—	—	—

See also

Colors in Romanian · culori (layout · text)

alb	gri	negru
roșu; carmin	portocaliu; maro	galben; crem
	verde	verde mentă
cyan	bleu	albastru
violet; indigo	mov; purpură	roz; trandafiriu (poetic)

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

-lila

1. to cry, to weep

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *neyH-der.?

Sanskrit नील॑ (nī́la)der.

Middle Persian 𐭭𐭩𐭫 (nīl)

Classical Persian نِیل (nīl)

Middle Persian 𐭪 (k /⁠-ak⁠/)

Classical Persian ـَک (-ak)

Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak)bor.

Arabic لِيلَك (līlak)bor.

French lilacbor.

Spanish lila

Borrowed from French lilac, from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak), from Persian نیلک (nilak), from نیل (nil, “dark blue”), ultimately from Sanskrit नील (nīla, “dark colored”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlila/ [ˈli.la]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: li‧la

Noun

lila f (plural lilas)

1. lilac (flower)
2. lilac (bush)

Derived terms

• lila de las Indias

Descendants

• → Cebuano: lila
• → Tagalog: lila

Noun

lila m (plural lilas)

1. lilac (color/colour)
2. (dated) twit; idiot

Adjective

lila m or f (masculine and feminine plural lilas)

1. lilac, purple, violet

See also

Colors in Spanish · colores (layout · text)

blanco	gris	negro
rojo; carmín, carmesí	naranja, anaranjado; marrón	amarillo; crema
lima	verde	menta
cian, turquesa; azul-petróleo	celeste, cerúleo	azul
violeta; añil, índigo	magenta; morado, púrpura	rosa, rosado

Further reading

• “lila”, 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

Swahili

Etymology

Apparently back-formed from lila na fila (“for good or bad”), perhaps from Arabic لَعَلَّ (laʕalla).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

lila class IX (plural lila class X)

1. goodness

   Synonym: uzuri

Swazi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

-lila

1. (intransitive) to cry, to weep

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Swedish

en lila bil

lila lupiner

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

lila n

1. purple, violet (color/colour)

Adjective

lila (comparative mer lila, superlative mest lila)

1. purple, violet (color/colour)

Usage notes

Between blue and red and blueish rather than reddish (compare purpur). Especially darker purples with little red (without being outright (dark) blue) feel like lila.

Descendants

• → Finnish: liila, lila

lila lupiner

lila lupiner

See also

• gredelin
• violett

Colors in Swedish · färger (layout · text)

vit	grå	svart
röd; karmosin, karmosinröd, blodröd	orange (common), brandgul (now uncommon); brun	gul; beige
limegrön	grön	mintgrön
turkos (common), cyan (rare); blågrön, teal	himmelsblå, azur	blå
lila, violett, gredelin (light lavender, now uncommon); indigo	magenta; purpur	rosa (common), skär (uncommon)

References

• “lila”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “lila”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “lila”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)

Anagrams

• illa

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *neyH-der.?

Sanskrit नील॑ (nī́la)der.

Middle Persian 𐭭𐭩𐭫 (nīl)

Classical Persian نِیل (nīl)

Middle Persian 𐭪 (k /⁠-ak⁠/)

Classical Persian ـَک (-ak)

Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak)bor.

Arabic لِيلَك (līlak)bor.

French lilacbor.

Spanish lilabor.

Tagalog lila

Borrowed from Spanish lila, borrowed from French lilac, borrowed from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak), borrowed from Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak), from نِیل (nīl) + ـَک (-ak). Ultimately from Sanskrit नील (nīla, “dark blue”). Doublet of anyil and nila.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈlila/ [ˈliː.lɐ]
• Rhymes: -ila
• Syllabification: li‧la
• Homophone: Lila

Noun

lila (Baybayin spelling ᜎᜒᜎ)

1. lilac (plant and flower)
2. lilac; pale purple (color/colour)

   lila:  

See also

Colors in Tagalog · kulay (layout · text)

puti	abo, gris	itim
pula; krimson	kahel; kayumanggi	dilaw; krema
kulay-dayap	lungti, lungtian, berde
turkesa	bughaw-langit, asul	bughaw, asul
lila, biyoleta; nila, tayom	mahenta; ube, morado, haban, purpura	rosas, kalimbahin

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈlilaʔ/ [ˈliː.lɐʔ]
• Rhymes: -ilaʔ
• Syllabification: li‧la

Noun

lilà (Baybayin spelling ᜎᜒᜎ)

1. crucible

   Synonym: krisol

2. (by extension) pieces of clay or stone (used as a temporary stove)

   Synonyms: tungko, tungkuan

Anagrams

• lali

Ternate

lila

Etymology

From Classical Malay ليلا (lela, lila).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli.la/

Noun

lila

1. a small, even shoulder-portable type of (colonial?) field gun, notably used in the East Indies

References

• Frederik Sigismund Alexander de Clercq (1890), Bijdragen tot de kennis der Residentie Ternate, E.J. Brill

Venda

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

lila

1. to cry, to weep

Volapük

Noun

lila

1. genitive singular of lil

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

-lila

1. (intransitive) to cry, to weep

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Yami

Noun

lila

1. (anatomy) tongue

Zazaki

Adjective

lila (comparative dehana lila, superlative tewr lila)

1. lilac, purple, violet (color/colour)

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-dɪ̀da.

Verb

-lila

1. (intransitive) to cry, to weep
2. (intransitive) to lament, to mourn

Inflection

tone L (infinitive ukulila)

	positive	negative
infinitive	ukulila	ukungalili
imperative
	simple	+ object concord
singular	lila	-lile
plural	lilani	-lileni
present
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyalila, ngilila	engililayo, engilila	ngilila	angilili	engingalili	ngingalili
2nd singular	uyalila, ulila	olilayo, olila	ulila	awulili	ongalili	ungalili
1st plural	siyalila, silila	esililayo, esilila	silila	asilili	esingalili	singalili
2nd plural	niyalila, nilila	enililayo, enilila	nilila	anilili	eningalili	ningalili
class 1	uyalila, ulila	olilayo, olila	elila	akalili	ongalili	engalili
class 2	bayalila, balila	abalilayo, abalila	belila	abalili	abangalili	bengalili
class 3	uyalila, ulila	olilayo, olila	ulila	awulili	ongalili	ungalili
class 4	iyalila, ilila	elilayo, elila	ilila	ayilili	engalili	ingalili
class 5	liyalila, lilila	elililayo, elilila	lilila	alilili	elingalili	lingalili
class 6	ayalila, alila	alilayo, alila	elila	awalili	angalili	engalili
class 7	siyalila, silila	esililayo, esilila	silila	asilili	esingalili	singalili
class 8	ziyalila, zilila	ezililayo, ezilila	zilila	azilili	ezingalili	zingalili
class 9	iyalila, ilila	elilayo, elila	ilila	ayilili	engalili	ingalili
class 10	ziyalila, zilila	ezililayo, ezilila	zilila	azilili	ezingalili	zingalili
class 11	luyalila, lulila	olulilayo, olulila	lulila	alulili	olungalili	lungalili
class 14	buyalila, bulila	obulilayo, obulila	bulila	abulili	obungalili	bungalili
class 15	kuyalila, kulila	okulilayo, okulila	kulila	akulili	okungalili	kungalili
class 17	kuyalila, kulila	okulilayo, okulila	kulila	akulili	okungalili	kungalili
recent past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngililile, ngililē	engililile, engililē	ngililile, ngililē	angililanga	engingalilanga	ngingalilanga
2nd singular	ulilile, ulilē	olilile, olilē	ulilile, ulilē	awulilanga	ongalilanga	ungalilanga
1st plural	sililile, sililē	esililile, esililē	sililile, sililē	asililanga	esingalilanga	singalilanga
2nd plural	nililile, nililē	enililile, enililē	nililile, nililē	anililanga	eningalilanga	ningalilanga
class 1	ulilile, ulilē	olilile, olilē	elilile, elilē	akalilanga	ongalilanga	engalilanga
class 2	balilile, balilē	abalilile, abalilē	belilile, belilē	abalilanga	abangalilanga	bengalilanga
class 3	ulilile, ulilē	olilile, olilē	ulilile, ulilē	awulilanga	ongalilanga	ungalilanga
class 4	ililile, ililē	elilile, elilē	ililile, ililē	ayililanga	engalilanga	ingalilanga
class 5	lililile, lililē	elililile, elililē	lililile, lililē	alililanga	elingalilanga	lingalilanga
class 6	alilile, alilē	alilile, alilē	elilile, elilē	awalilanga	angalilanga	engalilanga
class 7	sililile, sililē	esililile, esililē	sililile, sililē	asililanga	esingalilanga	singalilanga
class 8	zililile, zililē	ezililile, ezililē	zililile, zililē	azililanga	ezingalilanga	zingalilanga
class 9	ililile, ililē	elilile, elilē	ililile, ililē	ayililanga	engalilanga	ingalilanga
class 10	zililile, zililē	ezililile, ezililē	zililile, zililē	azililanga	ezingalilanga	zingalilanga
class 11	lulilile, lulilē	olulilile, olulilē	lulilile, lulilē	alulilanga	olungalilanga	lungalilanga
class 14	bulilile, bulilē	obulilile, obulilē	bulilile, bulilē	abulilanga	obungalilanga	bungalilanga
class 15	kulilile, kulilē	okulilile, okulilē	kulilile, kulilē	akulilanga	okungalilanga	kungalilanga
class 17	kulilile, kulilē	okulilile, okulilē	kulilile, kulilē	akulilanga	okungalilanga	kungalilanga
remote past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngālila	engālila	ngālila	angililanga	engingalilanga	ngingalilanga
2nd singular	wālila	owālila	wālila	awulilanga	ongalilanga	ungalilanga
1st plural	sālila	esālila	sālila	asililanga	esingalilanga	singalilanga
2nd plural	nālila	enālila	nālila	anililanga	eningalilanga	ningalilanga
class 1	wālila	owālila	ālila	akalilanga	ongalilanga	engalilanga
class 2	bālila	abālila	bālila	abalilanga	abangalilanga	bengalilanga
class 3	wālila	owālila	wālila	awulilanga	ongalilanga	ungalilanga
class 4	yālila	eyālila	yālila	ayililanga	engalilanga	ingalilanga
class 5	lālila	elālila	lālila	alililanga	elingalilanga	lingalilanga
class 6	ālila	ālila	ālila	awalilanga	angalilanga	engalilanga
class 7	sālila	esālila	sālila	asililanga	esingalilanga	singalilanga
class 8	zālila	ezālila	zālila	azililanga	ezingalilanga	zingalilanga
class 9	yālila	eyālila	yālila	ayililanga	engalilanga	ingalilanga
class 10	zālila	ezālila	zālila	azililanga	ezingalilanga	zingalilanga
class 11	lwālila	olwālila	lwālila	alulilanga	olungalilanga	lungalilanga
class 14	bālila	obālila	bālila	abulilanga	obungalilanga	bungalilanga
class 15	kwālila	okwālila	kwālila	akulilanga	okungalilanga	kungalilanga
class 17	kwālila	okwālila	kwālila	akulilanga	okungalilanga	kungalilanga
potential
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngingalila	—	ngingalila	ngingelile	—	ngingelile
2nd singular	ungalila	—	ungalila	ungelile	—	ungelile
1st plural	singalila	—	singalila	singelile	—	singelile
2nd plural	ningalila	—	ningalila	ningelile	—	ningelile
class 1	angalila	—	engalila	angelile	—	engelile
class 2	bangalila	—	bengalila	bangelile	—	bengelile
class 3	ungalila	—	ungalila	ungelile	—	ungelile
class 4	ingalila	—	ingalila	ingelile	—	ingelile
class 5	lingalila	—	lingalila	lingelile	—	lingelile
class 6	angalila	—	engalila	angelile	—	engelile
class 7	singalila	—	singalila	singelile	—	singelile
class 8	zingalila	—	zingalila	zingelile	—	zingelile
class 9	ingalila	—	ingalila	ingelile	—	ingelile
class 10	zingalila	—	zingalila	zingelile	—	zingelile
class 11	lungalila	—	lungalila	lungelile	—	lungelile
class 14	bungalila	—	bungalila	bungelile	—	bungelile
class 15	kungalila	—	kungalila	kungelile	—	kungelile
class 17	kungalila	—	kungalila	kungelile	—	kungelile
immediate future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngizolila	engizolila	ngizolila	angizulila	engingezulila	ngingezulila
2nd singular	uzolila	ozolila	uzolila	awuzulila	ongezulila	ungezulila
1st plural	sizolila	esizolila	sizolila	asizulila	esingezulila	singezulila
2nd plural	nizolila	enizolila	nizolila	anizulila	eningezulila	ningezulila
class 1	uzolila	ozolila	ezolila	akazulila	ongezulila	engezulila
class 2	bazolila	abazolila	bezolila	abazulila	abangezulila	bengezulila
class 3	uzolila	ozolila	uzolila	awuzulila	ongezulila	ungezulila
class 4	izolila	ezolila	izolila	ayizulila	engezulila	ingezulila
class 5	lizolila	elizolila	lizolila	alizulila	elingezulila	lingezulila
class 6	azolila	azolila	ezolila	awazulila	angezulila	engezulila
class 7	sizolila	esizolila	sizolila	asizulila	esingezulila	singezulila
class 8	zizolila	ezizolila	zizolila	azizulila	ezingezulila	zingezulila
class 9	izolila	ezolila	izolila	ayizulila	engezulila	ingezulila
class 10	zizolila	ezizolila	zizolila	azizulila	ezingezulila	zingezulila
class 11	luzolila	oluzolila	luzolila	aluzulila	olungezulila	lungezulila
class 14	buzolila	obuzolila	buzolila	abuzulila	obungezulila	bungezulila
class 15	kuzolila	okuzolila	kuzolila	akuzulila	okungezulila	kungezulila
class 17	kuzolila	okuzolila	kuzolila	akuzulila	okungezulila	kungezulila
remote future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyolila	engiyolila	ngiyolila	angiyulila	engingeyulila	ngingeyulila
2nd singular	uyolila	oyolila	uyolila	awuyulila	ongeyulila	ungeyulila
1st plural	siyolila	esiyolila	siyolila	asiyulila	esingeyulila	singeyulila
2nd plural	niyolila	eniyolila	niyolila	aniyulila	eningeyulila	ningeyulila
class 1	uyolila	oyolila	eyolila	akayulila	ongeyulila	engeyulila
class 2	bayolila	abayolila	beyolila	abayulila	abangeyulila	bengeyulila
class 3	uyolila	oyolila	uyolila	awuyulila	ongeyulila	ungeyulila
class 4	iyolila	eyolila	iyolila	ayiyulila	engeyulila	ingeyulila
class 5	liyolila	eliyolila	liyolila	aliyulila	elingeyulila	lingeyulila
class 6	ayolila	ayolila	eyolila	awayulila	angeyulila	engeyulila
class 7	siyolila	esiyolila	siyolila	asiyulila	esingeyulila	singeyulila
class 8	ziyolila	eziyolila	ziyolila	aziyulila	ezingeyulila	zingeyulila
class 9	iyolila	eyolila	iyolila	ayiyulila	engeyulila	ingeyulila
class 10	ziyolila	eziyolila	ziyolila	aziyulila	ezingeyulila	zingeyulila
class 11	luyolila	oluyolila	luyolila	aluyulila	olungeyulila	lungeyulila
class 14	buyolila	obuyolila	buyolila	abuyulila	obungeyulila	bungeyulila
class 15	kuyolila	okuyolila	kuyolila	akuyulila	okungeyulila	kungeyulila
class 17	kuyolila	okuyolila	kuyolila	akuyulila	okungeyulila	kungeyulila
present subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngilile	ngingalili
2nd singular	ulile	ungalili
1st plural	silile	singalili
2nd plural	nilile	ningalili
class 1	alile	angalili
class 2	balile	bangalili
class 3	ulile	ungalili
class 4	ilile	ingalili
class 5	lilile	lingalili
class 6	alile	angalili
class 7	silile	singalili
class 8	zilile	zingalili
class 9	ilile	ingalili
class 10	zilile	zingalili
class 11	lulile	lungalili
class 14	bulile	bungalili
class 15	kulile	kungalili
class 17	kulile	kungalili
past subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngalila	ngangalila, angalila, angangalila
2nd singular	walila	wangalila, awalila, awangalila
1st plural	salila	sangalila, asalila, asangalila
2nd plural	nalila	nangalila, analila, anangalila
class 1	walila	wangalila, akalila, akangalila
class 2	balila	bangalila, abalila, abangalila
class 3	walila	wangalila, awalila, awangalila
class 4	yalila	yangalila, ayalila, ayangalila
class 5	lalila	langalila, alalila, alangalila
class 6	alila	angalila, awalila, awangalila
class 7	salila	sangalila, asalila, asangalila
class 8	zalila	zangalila, azalila, azangalila
class 9	yalila	yangalila, ayalila, ayangalila
class 10	zalila	zangalila, azalila, azangalila
class 11	lwalila	lwangalila, alwalila, alwangalila
class 14	balila	bangalila, abalila, abangalila
class 15	kwalila	kwangalila, akwalila, akwangalila
class 17	kwalila	kwangalila, akwalila, akwangalila

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “lila”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “lila (6.3)”