Paparazzi
/ˌpɑː.pəˈrɑːt.si/noun
Photographers who pursue celebrities to obtain candid or sensational photographs.
Did you know?Federico Fellini created the character Paparazzo for La Dolce Vita (1960), but the exact inspiration for the name remains disputed, with theories involving a Sicilian hotelkeeper and a dialect word for a buzzing or bothersome insect.
Etymological Timeline
1960
Italian
Paparazzo
“The surname of a persistent news photographer in Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita.”
1960
Italian
paparazzi
“The plural of paparazzo in the film’s dialogue and publicity.”
Early 1960s
Italian
paparazzo
“A photographer aggressively pursuing celebrities for candid images; the fictional name became a common noun.”
1960s
English
paparazzi
“A borrowed plural used in English for photographers who chase famous people.”
Modern English
English
paparazzi
“Celebrity photographers, especially those seeking intrusive or sensational photographs.”
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