Myths & disputes

abracadabra

A Roman healing charm — written in a shrinking triangle to make a fever shrink — whose origin nobody actually knows; the popular Aramaic 'I create as I speak' explanation has no evidence behind it. From Latin medicine it passed to every European language, as a stage magician's word in English and as 'gibberish' in Russian and Polish.

Weakest linkDisputed

The story you may have heard

Often said to be Aramaic ʾavra kə-dabra 'I create as I speak' (or Hebrew 'I will create as I speak'); Aramaic specialists reject the parse and the OED notes no documentation supports any of the proposed etymologies, including links to Abraxas.

The road to English

From Latin to French

From Latin to Russian

From Latin to German

From Latin to Italian

From Latin to Spanish

From Latin to Polish

From English to Japanese

From English to Modern Hebrew

210 CELatin

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

abracadabra

Weakest linkDisputed

The road to English

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