Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “trouble” come from?

trouble (Old French) comes from Vulgar Latin turbulus, from Latin turbidus, from Latin turba, from Ancient Greek τύρβη, from Proto-Indo-European twerH- — to enclose, fence in; to grab, seize; to stir.

Ancestry of “trouble”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vulgar Latinturbulusmuddy, turbid, murky, clouded, opaque; troubled,...
2Latinturbiduswild, stormy; muddy, turbid; murky, foggy,...
3Latinturbastir, disturbance, tumult, uproar, trouble; mob,...
4Ancient Greekτύρβηdisorder, confusion, tumult; poetic rout, revelry
5Proto-Indo-EuropeantwerH-to enclose, fence in; to grab, seize; to stir

Words derived from “trouble”

  • troebel
  • trouble
Every word from Proto-Indo-European twerH- →