Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “culpa” come from?

culpa (Latin) comes from Proto-Italic kʷolpā, from Proto-Indo-European kʷolp-eh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kʷelp-, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

culpa (Latin): fault, defect; blame, guilt; crime

Definitions

  1. fault, defect; blame, guilt; crime

Ancestry of “culpa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Italickʷolpāmistake; fault
2Proto-Indo-Europeankʷolp-eh₂bend, turn
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷelp-to bend; to curve, arch
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “culpa”

  • culprit
  • culpable
  • exculpatory
  • culpa
  • culpably
  • inculpable
  • culpe
  • nonculpable
  • nonexculpatory
  • disculpate
  • inculpably
  • unculpable
  • exculpatorily
  • nonculprit
  • culpableness
  • exculpate
  • felix culpa
  • inculpableness
  • felix culpa
  • inculpabilis
  • culpo
  • exculpens
  • exculpturus
  • exculptus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →