Etymology

babel

B3A1B3E1L1

Today it means: A confused mixture of sounds and voices, especially in different languages. Full definition →

First used 16th c.Latin Babel ← Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel) ← Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim)
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The story

  1. Akkadian𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim)
  2. Biblical Hebrewבָּבֶל (bāḇel)
  3. LatinBabel
  4. English todayBabel

From Latin Babel, from Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel, “Babylon”), from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim); in Genesis associated with the idea of confusion. Doublet of Babylon.

Words from the same roots

Akkadian𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 all →

babylon

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. A confused mixture of sounds and voices, especially in different languages.
  • from 16th c. A place or scene of noise and confusion.
  • from 16th c. A tall, looming structure.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.