Where does “bravo” come from?

Bravo derives from Italian bravo, from Vulgar Latin bravus, from Latin barbarus meaning "foreign," from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to strike" or "stumble."

bravo (English): A hired soldier; an assassin; a desperado; A...

Definitions

  1. A hired soldier; an assassin; a desperado; A...

Ancestry of “bravo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianbravogood, well-behaved; good, skilful, capable,...
2Vulgar Latinbravus—
3Latinbarbarusforeign; savage; uncivilized
4Ancient Greekβάρβαροςnon-Greek-speaking, foreign; barbaric, brutal,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbalb-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European balb- →