Etymology Map
Back to all words

Charlatan

4 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a person falsely claiming special knowledge or skill

Where does the word "charlatan" come from? It comes from Italian ciarlare, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
ciarlare
Italian · medieval
"to chatter"
to chatter or babble
2
Stage 2 of 4
ciarlatano
Italian · 1500s
"quack"
a market quack; the word may also recall the travelling medicine sellers of Cerreto in Umbria
3
Stage 3 of 4
charlatan
French · 1500s
"mountebank"
a mountebank
4
Stage 4 of 4
charlatan
English · 1610s
"impostor"
first a travelling seller of remedies
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Charlatan’s story begins in Italian: ciarlare meant “to chatter.” To chatter or babble. Within Italian, it grew into ciarlatano by 1500s. A market quack; the word may also recall the travelling medicine sellers of Cerreto in Umbria. From there it passed into French as charlatan by 1500s. A mountebank. It reached English by 1610s as charlatan. First a travelling seller of remedies. Today, charlatan means a person falsely claiming special knowledge or skill.