Barbarous
/ˈbɑːr.bər.əs/noun
Savage, cruel, or extremely brutal.
Did you know?The term 'barbarous' originally described those who spoke unintelligible languages, seen as outsiders in ancient civilizations, hinting at how language shapes our view of humanity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*barbʰar
“to stammer or speak unintelligibly.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βάρβαρος (bárbaros)
“a foreigner, one who speaks a foreign language (i.e., unintelligible speech).”
Latin
Latin
barbarus
“foreign, strange, or uncivilized.”
Old French
Old French
barbare
“savage or wild; a term used for non-Christian peoples.”
Middle English
Middle English
barbarous
“savage, brutal, or cruel in nature.”
Modern English
English
barbarous
“characterized by cruelty and brutal behavior.”