Madalena

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• Magdalena (obsolete)

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Madalena, after the town of Magdala, from Hebrew מגדל (migdál, “tower”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.daˈlẽ.nɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.daˈlẽ.nɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.daˈle.na/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɐ.dɐˈlɛ.nɐ/ [mɐ.ðɐˈlɛ.nɐ], /mɐ.dɐˈle.nɐ/ [mɐ.ðɐˈle.nɐ]

• Audio (Portugal):

  (file)

• Homophone: madalena
• Hyphenation: Ma‧da‧le‧na

Proper noun

Madalena f

1. Mary Magdalene (biblical figure)

   Synonyms: Maria, Maria Madalena, Santa Maria

2. a female given name from Hebrew
   • 1991, Gilberto Gil (lyrics and music), “Madalena”, in Parabolicamará, WEA Records:

     Fui passear na roça / Encontrei Madalena / Sentada numa pedra / Comendo farinha seca

     I went on a stroll at the ranch / Ran into Madalena / Sitting on a rock / Eating flour

3. A village and municipality of the Azores, Portugal

Related terms

• madalenense