sick man of Europe

proper noun

The Ottoman Empire.

OriginRussian больно́й челове́к Европы →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. archaicgovernmentThe Ottoman Empire.
  2. governmentAny European country undergoing economic difficulty.

    Yes, we were known as the “sick man of Europe” until we joined the European Union and – guess what – we have left the EU and have regained that dubious status.

    2022 November 27, William Keegan, “Brexit has made Britain the sick man of Europe again”, in The Guardian

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
ottoman empire

Origin

  1. Russianбольно́й челове́к Европы
  2. Englishsick man of Europe

Calque of Russian больно́й челове́к Европы (bolʹnój čelovék Jevropy), a phrase coined by Czar Nicholas I of the Empire of Russia, referring to the poor state of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century.

More words from Russian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish Europas syge mand
  • Europas syge mandOttoman Empire
Dutch zieke man van Europa
  • zieke man van EuropaOttoman Empire
Finnish Euroopan sairas mies, Euroopan sairas mies
  • Euroopan sairas miesOttoman Empire
  • Euroopan sairas miesany European country undergoing economic difficulty
French homme malade de l'Europe
  • homme malade de l'EuropeOttoman Empire
German kranker Mann am Bosporus
  • kranker Mann am BosporusOttoman Empire
Greek μεγάλος ασθενής
  • μεγάλος ασθενής (megálos asthenís)Ottoman Empire
Japanese ヨーロッパの病人
  • ヨーロッパの病人 (yōroppa no byōnin)Ottoman Empire
Korean 유럽의 환자
  • 유럽의 환자 (Yureobui hwanja)Ottoman Empire
Norwegian Europas syke mann
  • Europas syke mannOttoman Empire
Polish chory człowiek Europy, chory człowiek Europy
  • chory człowiek EuropyOttoman Empire
  • chory człowiek Europyany European country undergoing economic difficulty
Portuguese homem doente da Europa, doente da Europa
  • homem doente da EuropaOttoman Empire
  • doente da Europaany European country undergoing economic difficulty
  • homem doente da Europaany European country undergoing economic difficulty
Russian больно́й челове́к Евро́пы
  • больно́й челове́к Евро́пы (bolʹnój čelovék Jevrópy)Ottoman Empire
Spanish hombre enfermo de Europa
  • hombre enfermo de EuropaOttoman Empire
Swedish Europas sjuke man
  • Europas sjuke manOttoman Empire
Turkish Avrupa'nın hasta adamı
  • Avrupa'nın hasta adamıOttoman Empire
Cite this entry
APA

sick man of Europe. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sick%20man%20of%20Europe

MLA

“sick man of Europe.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sick%20man%20of%20Europe. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sick man of Europe,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sick%20man%20of%20Europe.

Source: sick man of Europe on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.