patum

Catalan

Etymology

From earlier *potum by dissimilation, from pota (“paw”) +‎ -um.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [pəˈtum]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [paˈtum]

Noun

patum f (plural patums)

1. (folklore) A cardboard figure of a fantastic beast that is paraded through the streets at certain popular festivals.

   Synonym: tarasca

2. (figurative) A person whose popularity is due to reasons other than their own merits.

Further reading

• “patum”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025