problema

See also: probléma, problēma, problēmā, and problemă

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma). Doublet of problem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɹəˈblɛmə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛmə
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema (plural problemata)

1. (formal) A problem set forth in the Ancient Greek scholarly tradition.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:problemata.

Aklanon

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Aklanon problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/ [pɾoˈbleː.ma]
• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Aragonese

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/
• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema m (plural problemas)

1. problem

Asturian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/ [pɾoˈβ̞le.ma]
• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema m (plural problemes)

1. problem

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern) [pɾuˈβle̞.mə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [pɾoˈblɛ.mə]
• IPA^(key): (Central) [pɾuˈβlɛ.mə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [pɾoˈble.ma]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [pɾoˈβle.ma]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

Noun

problema m (plural problemes)

1. problem (difficulty; obstacle)
2. problem (question; schoolwork exercise)

Cebuano

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾobˈlema/ [pɾ̪obˈl̪eː.ma]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Cebuano problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema, a learned borrowing from Latin problēma, borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Noun

problema

1. a problem; a difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with

Etymology 2

Short for problema ni mama or problema ni papa.

Noun

problema

1. (humorous, often offensive) the penetrating sex hand gesture, formed by making an OK sign with one hand and inserting another finger, usually the index finger, into the ring

Central Bikol

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Central Bikol problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/ [pɾoˈbl̪e.ma]
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

probléma (Basahan spelling ᜉ᜔ᜍᜓᜊ᜔ᜎᜒᜋ)

1. problem

   Ano an problema mo baya?

   What's really your problem?

Chavacano

Etymology

Inherited from Spanish problema (“problem”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ema
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

Esperanto problemo

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Italian -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Old Spanish -a

Spanish -ader.

Esperanto -a

Esperanto problema

From problemo + -a.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /proˈblema/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Adjective

problema

1. problematic; appearing like, or related to, a problem

Further reading

• “problema”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “problema”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Galician

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Galician problema

Learned borrowing from Latin problēma, borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Noun

problema m (plural problemas)

1. problem

Hiligaynon

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Hiligaynon problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾobˈlema/ [pɾʊbˈle.ma]
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Ilocano

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Ilocano problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾobˈlema/ [pɾobˈle.ma]
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Interlingua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /proˈble.ma/

Noun

problema (plural problemas)

1. problem

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from prefix προ- (pro-, “in front of”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /proˈblɛ.ma/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛma
• Hyphenation: pro‧blè‧ma

Noun

problema m (plural problemi)

1. problem
2. glitch, bug

Derived terms

• sottoproblema

Related terms

• problematica
• problematico
• problematizzare

Kapampangan

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Kapampangan problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾobleˈma/ [pɾob.lɛˈma]
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Latin

Alternative forms

• problisma (late manuscripts)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēma

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [prɔˈbɫeː.ma]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [proˈblɛː.ma]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈprɔː.bli.ma]

Noun

problēma n (genitive problēmatis); third declension

1. problem, puzzle, enigma, question proposed for solution.

Declension

Third-declension noun (neuter, imparisyllabic non-i-stem).

	singular	plural
nominative	problēma	problēmata
genitive	problēmatis	problēmatōrum problēmatum
dative	problēmatī	problēmatīs problēmatibus
accusative	problēma	problēmata
ablative	problēmate	problēmatīs problēmatibus
vocative	problēma	problēmata

Derived terms

• problēmaticus

Descendants

• → Albanian: problem
• → Aromanian: prublemã
• → Asturian: problema
• → Azerbaijani: problem
• → Bulgarian: проблема (problema)
• → Catalan: problema
• → Czech: problém
• → Danish: problem
• → Dutch: probleem
  • Afrikaans: probleem
  • → Indonesian: problem
• → Finnish: probleema
• → Galician: problema
• → Georgian: პრობლემა (ṗroblema)
• → German: Problem
  • → Bulgarian: проблем (problem)
  • → Estonian: probleem
  • → Luxembourgish: Problem
• → Hungarian: probléma
• → Hunsrik: Problem
• → Italian: problema
• → Latvian: problēma
• → Lithuanian: problema
• → Macedonian: проблем (problem)
• → Middle French: probleme
  • French: problème
    • → Luxembourgish: Problem
    • → Polish: problem
    • → Romanian: problemă
    • → Turkish: problem
  • → Middle English: probleme, problem
    • English: problem
      • → Welsh: problem
    • Middle Scots: probleme, probleume
      • Scots: problem
• → Mirandese: porblema
• → Norwegian: problem
• → Polish: problem
• → Portuguese: problema
• → Russian: проблема (problema)
  • → Armenian: պրոբլեմ (problem)
  • → Bashkir: проблема (prublima)
  • → Georgian: პრობლემა (ṗroblema)
  • → Kumyk: проблема (problema)
  • → Kyrgyz: проблема (problema)
  • → Tajik: проблема (problema)
  • → Uzbek: problema
• → Serbo-Croatian: problem / проблем
• → Sicilian: prubbrema, prubblema
• → Spanish: problema
• → Swedish: problem
• → Ukrainian: проблема (problema)
• → Vilamovian: problem

Further reading

• “problema”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “problema”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• problema in Georges, Karl Ernst; Georges, Heinrich (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th edition, volume 2, Hahnsche Buchhandlung

Lithuanian

Etymology

From Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma). Influenced by other European languages.

Noun

problemà f (plural problèmos) stress pattern 2

1. problem

Declension

Declension of problemà

	singular	plural
nominative	problemà	problèmos
genitive	problèmos	problèmų
dative	problèmai	problèmoms
accusative	problèmą	problemàs
instrumental	problemà	problèmomis
locative	problèmoje	problèmose
vocative	problèma	problèmos

Related terms

• problematika
• problematinis
• problematiškas
• probleminis
• problemiškas

Further reading

• “problema”, in Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian language], lkz.lt, 1941–2026
• “problema”, in Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of contemporary Lithuanian], ekalba.lt, 1954–2026

Maltese

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /prɔbˈlɛː.ma/
• Rhymes: -ɛːma

Noun

problema m or f (plural problemi)

1. problem

Usage notes

• May be masculine like the Italian etymon, but mostly construed as feminine.

Related terms

• problematiku

Masbatenyo

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Masbatenyo problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• problemene

Noun

problema n

1. definite plural of problem

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

problema n

1. definite plural of problem

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Portuguese problema

Learned borrowing from Latin problēma, borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblẽ.mɐ/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɾuˈble.mɐ/ [pɾuˈβle.mɐ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɾuˈble.mɐ/ [pɾuˈβle.mɐ]
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɾuˈble.mɐ/

• (nonstandard) IPA^(key): /poˈbrẽ.mɐ/, /puˈble.mɐ/, /puɾble.mɐ/
• (Northeast Brazil) IPA^(key): /pɾɔˈblẽ.mɐ/
• (Caipira) IPA^(key): /pɻoˈbɻẽ.mɐ/

• Audio (Brazil):

  (file)

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -emɐ
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema m (plural problemas)

1. problem (difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with)
2. problem (question to be answered)

   Synonyms: exercício, questão

3. (pathology, informal) disorder (physical or psychical malfunction)

   Synonym: transtorno

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:problema.

Derived terms

• problemão (augmentative)
• probleminha (diminutive)

Related terms

• problemática
• problematicamente
• problematicidade
• problemático
• problematização
• problematizado
• problematizador
• problematizar
• problemista
• problemizar

Further reading

• “problema”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “problema”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Noun

problema

1. definite nominative/accusative singular of problemă

Romblomanon

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Romblomanon problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problema

Learned borrowing from Latin problēma, borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/ [pɾoˈβ̞le.ma]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema m (plural problemas)

1. problem, issue, challenge (a difficulty or obstacle that has to be dealt with)
   • 2025 September 24, Alejandra Jaramillo, “Trump exige investigación sobre presunto "triple sabotaje" en la ONU”, in CNN en Español‎^[1], archived from the original on 17 February 2026:

     En redes sociales afirmó que una serie de fallos técnicos, que incluyeron una escalera mecánica detenida, un fallo del teleprompter y problemas de audio, fueron actos deliberados para socavar su credibilidad. […] El exmandatario amplió el tema en una publicación en sus redes sociales, donde también mencionó el problema de un audio “totalmente desincronizado”.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. trouble (in the singular or in the plural)
3. question, dilemma, conundrum

   Synonym: dilema

4. condition (illness)

   Synonym: condición

Hyponyms

• problema técnico (“technical difficulty”)

Derived terms

• aproblemar (verb)
• no te hagas problema
• planteamiento del problema
• problemilla m (diminutive)
• problemita m (diminutive)
• resolución de problemas (“problem-solving”)

Related terms

• problemático

Descendants

• → Cebuano: problema
• > Chavacano: problema (inherited)
• → Tagalog: problema

Further reading

• “problema”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• poblema

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Tagalog problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema (“problem; trouble”), a learned borrowing from Latin problēma, borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “obstacle”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /pɾoˈblema/ [pɾoˈblɛː.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -ema
• Syllabification: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema (Baybayin spelling ᜉ᜔ᜇᜓᜊ᜔ᜎᜒᜋ)

1. problem; trouble

   Synonyms: suliranin, kuwestiyon, bagahe, sigalot

Derived terms

• problemado
• problemahin
• problematiko

Further reading

• “problema”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018

Waray-Waray

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *próder.

Ancient Greek πρό (pró)

Ancient Greek προ- (pro-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō)

Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥

Proto-Hellenic *-mə

Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)

Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma)bor.

Latin problēmalbor.

Spanish problemabor.

Waray-Waray problema

Borrowed from Spanish problema.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾobˈlema/, [pɾubˈli.ma]
• Hyphenation: pro‧ble‧ma

Noun

problema

1. problem