Gala Meaning

/ˈɡɑːlə/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

adjCelebratory; festive.

nounPomp, show, or festivity.

The gala dinner is at 10 p.m.
Are you going to the gala?
We need to formalize our plans for the gala.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The museum hosted a ____ with dancing and champagne on New Year's Eve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The charity organization hosted a glittering ____ to raise money for the local children's hospital.

From French gala, or directly from that word's etymon, which is either Italian gala, or Spanish gala, both meaning "festive occasion", and derived from Old French gale (“rejoicing”). (The French word likely kept the final -a to avoid homophony with gale (“scabies”).) Ultimately cognate to gallant and hence probably from Frankish *wala (“good, well”).

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The museum hosted a ____ with dancing and champagne on New Year's Eve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The charity organization hosted a glittering ____ to raise money for the local children's hospital.

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