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Where does the word "verboten" come from? It comes from German verbieten, passing through German before entering English (1912).
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Where does the word "verboten" come from? It comes from German verbieten, passing through German before entering English (1912).
Verboten’s story begins in German: verbieten meant “to forbid.” The root of 'forbid', its English cognate. Within German, it grew into verboten by 1600s. Past participle of verbieten, meaning forbidden. It reached English by 1912 as verboten. Popularized by World War I-era images of German regulation. Today, verboten means strictly forbidden, especially by an authority or set of rules.
- Stage 1 · German · medieval verbieten "to forbid", the root of 'forbid', its English cognate.
- Stage 2 · German · 1600s verboten "forbidden", past participle of verbieten, meaning forbidden.
- Stage 3 · English · 1912 verboten "strictly forbidden, especially by authority", popularized by World War I-era images of German regulation.