LA
|la|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛl ˈeɪ/ or /lɑ/
🇬🇧
/ˌɛl ˈeɪ/ or /lɑː/
syllable / place name (abbreviation)
Etymology
'LA' (abbr. for Los Angeles) originates from Spanish, specifically the phrase 'Los Ángeles' meaning 'the angels.'
'LA' as an abbreviation evolved from the city's full Spanish name 'Los Ángeles' (given by Spanish colonists) into the English-language abbreviated form 'L.A.' and then into the unpunctuated 'LA' in modern usage.
Initially, the full name referred specifically to 'the angels' (religious reference), and over time the shortened form 'LA' came to be used widely as the city's common name without the religious connotation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the sixth degree of the diatonic scale; the solfège syllable for that pitch (equivalent to the note A in fixed-do systems).
She hit LA on the final note of the choir piece.
Synonyms
Noun 2
abbreviation or informal name for Los Angeles, a major city in California, USA.
I'm flying to LA tomorrow for a conference.
Synonyms
Noun 3
postal abbreviation (US) for the state of Louisiana.
The shipment was addressed to a company in LA.
Synonyms
Interjection 1
a vocable used in singing (as in 'fa la la') or to express light-heartedness.
They sang fa LA la during the chorus.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/20 14:05