Etymology
1. 1230,
babeln "to prattle," akin to other Western European words for stammering and prattling (cf. Swed.
babbla, Fr.
babiller) attested from the same era, some of which were probably borrowed, but etymologists cannot now determine which were original. Probably imitative of baby-talk, in any case (cf. L.
babulus, Gk.
barbaros). "No direct connexion with
Babel can be traced; though association with that may have affected the senses" [OED]. Meaning "to repeat oneself incoherently, speak foolishly" is attested from c.1418.
2. From Middle English babelen, from Old English *bæblian, also wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), from Proto-West Germanic *bablōn, *wablōn, variants of *babalōn, from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰa-bʰa-, perhaps a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to say”), or a variant of Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely, mumble”), or a merger of the two, possibly ultimately onomatopoeic/mimicry of infantile sounds (compare babe, baby).
3. Cognate with Saterland Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), West Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), Dutch babbelen (“to babble, chat”), German Low German babbeln (“to babble”), German babbeln (“to babble”), Danish bable, bavle (“to babble”), Swedish babbla (“to babble”), Icelandic babla (“to babble”). Unrelated to Babel. See: Proto-Germanic '
*babalōną', Frisian, Saterlandic 'babbelje', Dutch '
babbelen', German, old spelling '
babbeln', Danish '
bable', Swedish '
babbla', Icelandic '
babla'.
Verbs referencing "babble"
Armenian
բլբլալ, Frisian, Saterlandic babbelje, Danish
bavle.