Where does “problembarn” come from?

problembarn (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk barn, from Old Norse barn, from Proto-Germanic barną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

problembarn (Norwegian Nynorsk): a problem child

Definitions

  1. a problem child

Ancestry of “problembarn”, step by step

problembarn traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk barn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskbarna child
2Old Norsebarnchild
3Proto-Germanicbarnąchild
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

via Norwegian Nynorsk problem

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskproblemproblem

via English problem child

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishproblem childA child who is particularly difficult to raise or educate, especially due to a lack of self-control and disruptive and antisocial behavior
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr-Every word from Proto-Germanic barnąEvery word from Old Norse barn