trabalho
/tɾaˈbaʎu/
noun
Origin
Latin
tripalium — an instrument of torture made of three stakes
Overview
Meaning Now
- A task, chore, or project that requires mental or physical effort.
- A person's employment or professional occupation.
- The result or product of labor or effort.
Literal older meaning
torture, affliction, or painful labor
Language path
Latin → Vulgar Latin → Portuguese
Earliest form
trabalho
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The transition from the Latin word for a torture device ('tripalium') to the modern Portuguese word for work reflects the historical reality that physical labor was once viewed primarily as a form of suffering or heavy toil.
Evolution
- Latin
tripalium
“three-staked torture device”
A tool used for restraint and punishment.
- Vulgar Latin
*tripaliare
“to torture, to inflict pain”
Verb form denoting the act of causing suffering.
- Old Portuguese
trebalho
“affliction, suffering, arduous effort”
Initial meaning retained the sense of hardship.
- Modern Portuguese
trabalho
“work, labor, employment”
Broadening of meaning from suffering to general productive effort.
Connections
Word parts
tri-
prefix
three
-pal-
root
stake
Related across languages
Spanish
trabajo
work, job
French
travail
work
Italian
travaglio
labor, travail, suffering
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Related to trabalho
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.