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Imbroglio

2 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means an extremely confused or complicated situation

Where does the word "imbroglio" come from? It comes from Italian imbrogliare, adopted directly into English (1750s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
imbrogliare
Italian · medieval
"to entangle"
to entangle; English 'embroil' comes from the related French 'embrouiller'
2
Stage 2 of 2
imbroglio
English · 1750s
"tangle"
first a confused heap, then a tangled situation
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Read the full story

Imbroglio’s story begins in Italian: imbrogliare meant “to entangle.” To entangle; English 'embroil' comes from the related French 'embrouiller'. It reached English by 1750s as imbroglio. First a confused heap, then a tangled situation. Today, imbroglio means an extremely confused or complicated situation.