Uncertain. Probably from Vulgar Latin *bravus, from a fusion of Latin prāvus and barbarus. Less likely from Provençal brau (“show-off”), from Gaulish *bragos (compare Middle Irish breagha (modern breá) 'fine', Breton braga 'to strut'). Or perhaps borrowed from a descendant of Proto-Germanic *hrawaz (“raw, uncooked”). Or possibly from a root *bravus, from bravium. Borrowed into French and English as brave. Pierre Carpentier, in an 18th-century edition of du Cange's 17th-century dictionary of medieval and modern Latin, argued Latin branus originated in a misreading of Italian and Spanish bravo. However, George Nicholson argues the opposite in a 1950 Festschrift article, namely bravo being a misreading of Latin branus, which would have the origin du Cange had originally argued for, from Old French brahaigne (“barren”) (see barren). Compare English gravy, possibly a misreading of French grané (“stew”).

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bravo

Meaning

Concepts

Synonyms

Translations

Frequency

Hyphenated as

brà‧vo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbra.vo/

Etymology

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bravo

Meaning

Concepts

Synonyms

Translations

Frequency

Hyphenated as

brà‧vo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbra.vo/

Etymology

Show popularity over time

Notes

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