Somebody asked me today what a "palava" is... it certainly doesn't sound like an English word! It's a word used to describe a situation that was unnecessarily difficult or stressful. The word is usually used when you are angry or annoyed.

Is Palava in the dictionary?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary it derives from the Portuguese "palavra" meaning "speech" (cognate with the English word "parable")which meant "talk, parley,discussion", specifically between Portuguese traders and West African natives. ... See, the meaning and origin of the expression 'what a palaver'.

When something is a Palava?

(pəlɑːvəʳ , -læv-) uncountable noun. Palaver is unnecessary fuss and bother about the way something is done. [informal]