# Attila

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /əˈtɪlə/ · frequency rank #33,135

## Definitions
1. A king of the tribes of Huns.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀττίλα (Attíla), of uncertain further origin. Traditionally thought to have been derived from East Germanic, such as a Gothic *𐌰𐍄𐍄𐌹𐌻𐌰 (*attila, literally “little father”), from 𐌰𐍄𐍄𐌰 (atta, “father”) + -𐌹𐌻𐌰 (-ila).
A more recent explanation by Bonnman-Fries (2025) suggests a Yeniseian origin, specifically an Arinic language. The proper name is explained as deriving from a Common Yeniseian adjective complex *atɨ-λa (“quite swift, quite fast”); see there for more. Compare also Bactrian Χιγγιλο (Khingilo), Brahmi 𑀔𑀺𑀗𑁆𑀕𑀺𑀮 (Khiṇgila), the name of a leader of the Alchon Huns, which could prove that the diminutive -ila is of Hunnic origin.

## Easily confused with
- **attire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/attila-vs-attire)
- **atta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/atta-vs-attila)
- **attic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/attic-vs-attila)
- **Antifa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/antifa-vs-attila)
- **Aquila** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aquila-vs-attila)
- **Attica** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/attica-vs-attila)

## Common misspellings (6)
`atila`, `atitla`, `attial`, `attilla`, `attlia`, `tatila`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/attila