LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

balbus1

balbus (feminine balba, neuter balbum)
Classical[ˈbaɫ.bʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈbal.bus]

Meaning

  1. adjectivestammering, stuttering
  2. adjectivelisping
  3. adjectivefumbling

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Balbus · Blæsus

Balbus (from balare) denotes stammering as an habitual quality, whereas Blæsus, as a temporary condition. (iii. 79.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativebalbusbalbabalbum
genitivebalbībalbaebalbī
dativebalbōbalbaebalbō
accusativebalbumbalbambalbum
ablativebalbōbalbābalbō
vocativebalbebalbabalbum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativebalbībalbaebalba
genitivebalbōrumbalbārumbalbōrum
dativebalbīsbalbīsbalbīs
accusativebalbōsbalbāsbalba
ablativebalbīsbalbīsbalbīs
vocativebalbībalbaebalba

balbus, a, um, adj. kindr. with balo; cf. Sanscr. barh, barrire, and barbarus,
I. stammering, stuttering (opp. planus, speaking fluently, without impediment): balba, loqui non quit? τραυλίζει, does she (the loved one) stammer, can she not speak distinctly? (then he says) she lisps, Lucr. 4, 1164: Demosthenes cum ita balbus esset, ut ejus ipsius artis, cui studeret (sc. rhetoricae), primam litteram (sc. r) non posset dicere, perfecit meditando, ut nemo planius esse locutus putaretur, Cic. de Or. 1, 61, 260; and thus in ridicule, id. Fam. 2, 10, 1: os pueri, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 126: senectus, id. ib. 1, 20, 18; Dig. 21, 1, 10, § 5: verba, Tib. 2, 5, 94; Hor. S. 2, 3, 274: balbā de nare loqui, to speak through the nose, Pers. 1, 33.—Adv.: balbē, stammeringly, etc., Lucr. 5, 1021.—
2. Transf., obscurely, Varr. ap. Non. p. 80, 7.

Origins

From Proto-Indo-European *balb-, *balbal- (“tongue-tied”), of onomatopoeic origin. Cognate with Ancient Greek βαμβαίνω (bambaínō), βαμβαλύζω (bambalúzō, “to chatter with the teeth”), Russian болтать (boltatʹ, “to chatter, babble”), Lithuanian balbė́ti (“to talk, babble”), Sanskrit बल्बला (balbalā, “stammering”), Albanian belbët (“stammering”). See also bālō, blatiō, blaterō.

Descendants
  • Catalanbalb
  • Italianbalbo
  • Portuguesebalbo
  • Spanishbobo
  • Portuguesebobofrom Spanish bobo
  • Galicianbouba
  • Irishbalbhfrom Old Irish balb
  • Manxballoofrom Old Irish balb
  • Scottish Gaelicbalbhfrom Old Irish balb
proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Balbus2
Balbus m sg (genitive Balbī)
Classical[ˈbaɫ.bʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈbal.bus]

Meaning

  1. masculinesingularA Roman cognomen — famously held by
  2. masculinesingularLucius Cornelius Balbus, a Roman consul

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeBalbus—
genitiveBalbī—
dativeBalbō—
accusativeBalbum—
ablativeBalbō—
vocativeBalbe—

Balbus, i, m.,
I. a Roman cognomen, Cic. Att. 8, 9, 4; id. Balb. passim; id. Cael. 11, 27; id. de Or. 3, 21, 78 al.

Origins

From balbus (“stammering”).

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

Biography & mythologyBalbusBalbus. 1. L. Cornelius Balbus, sometimes called Major to distinguish him from his nephew [No. 3]. was a native of Gades. and descended from an illust…

Quick answers

What does balbus mean in Latin?
balbus, a adjective, means “stammering, stuttering; lisping; fumbling”.
How do you pronounce balbus?
In classical Latin, [ˈbaɫ.bʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈbal.bus].