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problème

Etymology and origin of the French word problème

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1380, Évrart de Conty
Borrowed from
Latin problema
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (προβάλλω)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin problema
English problem
French problème

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pʁɔ.blɛm/[1]

Forms

problème m (plural problèmes)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin problēma (“a question to be solved”), from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “something put forward; obstacle; task; question”), derived from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw before; to put forward”), from πρό (pró, “before”) and βάλλω (bállō, “to throw”).[2][3][4][5][6] Bloch and Wartburg note that the word was rare before the 17th century.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1380 in Évrart de Conty's French version of the Problems of Aristotle, meaning a speculative difficulty to which one seeks an answer.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Until the 17th century the word belonged to philosophy and theology; it then entered mathematics (1612, Bachet's Problèmes plaisans et delectables qui se font par les nombres) and physics (1632, Descartes).[2][3] The school exercise in mathematics is found in Colette (1900).[2]

In the 18th century problème came to mean a thing or person hard to understand (1753) and a practical difficulty (1775, Voltaire).[2][3] Avoir des problèmes is recorded in 1954 (Simone de Beauvoir), and il n'y a pas de problème (1963) is a calque of English no problem.[2] Faux problème dates from 1932 (Bergson).[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1380 – Évrart de Conty's Problèmes d'Aristote.[2]
  • 1612 – Bachet's mathematical Problèmes.[2]
  • 1632 – In physics, in Descartes.[3]
  • 1753 – A person or thing hard to explain.[2]
  • 1775 – A practical difficulty, in Voltaire.[2]
  • 1900 – A school exercise, in Colette.[2]
  • 1963 – Il n'y a pas de problème.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A question open to discussion in a field of knowledge: le problème du mal.[8]
  2. A question to be solved by reasoning; a mathematics exercise: un problème de géométrie.[4][8]
  3. A difficulty to be dealt with: les problèmes de logement.[2][1]
  4. (familiar) Trouble: avoir des problèmes, pas de problème.[2][1]
  5. A person or thing hard to understand: cet enfant est un problème.[2][4]
  • problématique
  • problématiser
  • problémiste
  • Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)
  • English problem

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 408a
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Problème.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/probl%C3%A8me. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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