Etymology Map
Back to all words

Brutal

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means savagely violent

Where does the word "brutal" come from? It comes from Latin brutus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
brutus
Latin · ancient
"heavy, dull"
an Oscan word for stupid or senseless, like a beast
2
Stage 2 of 3
brutal
Old French · medieval
"beastlike"
from 'brute', an animal
3
Stage 3 of 3
brutal
English · 1400s
"beastlike"
the sense 'savagely cruel' dates from the 1600s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Brutal’s story begins in Latin: brutus meant “heavy, dull.” An Oscan word for stupid or senseless, like a beast. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as brutal. From 'brute', an animal. It reached English by 1400s as brutal. The sense 'savagely cruel' dates from the 1600s. Today, brutal means savagely violent.