Definition of the word paparazzo

The term "paparazzo" originated in Italian cinema in the 1950s. It derives from the name of a fictional character in a 1960 Italian comedy film called "La Dolce Vita," directed by Federico Fellini. In the movie, the character Paparazzo is a persistent photographer who persistently pursues celebrities and the rich for the sake of taking photos. The word "paparazzo" is a combination of the Italian words "papa" meaning father, and "rraso," meaning mosquito or buzzing noise. This unusual pairing of words helped form an amusing imitation of the continuous clicking sound that camera shutters make. Although the character of Paparazzo solely existed within the context of Fellini's film, the term became significant because of the fast-growing trend of paparazzi in popular culture during this era. As the name stuck, it ultimately became associated with photographers who made a living by taking unauthorised photos of celebrities, usually in private settings or personal moments. In summary, the term Paparazzo originated in an Italian comedy film and was coined as a tongue-in-cheek nickname based on the repeated clicking sounds from camera shutters. Its use has since become popularized and widely recognised as a term that describes overly invasive photographers in pursuit of celebrity snaps.