Etymology Explorer › Russian

Where does “бестолковый” come from?

бестолковый (Russian) comes from Russian толк, from Old East Slavic тълкъ, from Proto-Slavic tъlkъ, from Proto-Indo-European telkʷ- — to talk.

бестолковый (Russian): muddle-headed, stupid; confused, incoherent;...

Definitions

  1. muddle-headed, stupid; confused, incoherent;...

Ancestry of “бестолковый”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianтолкsense, use, judgment; talk, rumor; doctrine,...
2Old East Slavicтълкъinterpreter; interpretation, explanation
3Proto-Slavictъlkъinterpretation; interpreter
4Proto-Indo-Europeantelkʷ-to talk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European telkʷ- →