Did you know that 'palaver' is actually Portuguese?

'Palaver' is a word borrowed from Portuguese 'palavra'. The word entered the English language some time around 1735.

palaver [noun] [1735]

• a long parley usually between persons of different cultures or levels of sophistication
• conference
• idle talk
• misleading or beguiling speech

See 'palaver' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Portuguese.

Etymology: Portuguese 'palavra' word, speech, from Late Latin 'parabola' parable, speech

See more loan words from 1700s.