# problem
## English
### Alternative forms

* probleme (obsolete)

### Etymology

From Middle English probleme, from Middle French probleme, from Latin problema, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “anything thrown forward, hindrance, obstacle, anything projecting, a headland, promontory”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from προ- (pro-, “in front of”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”).

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation, Canada) IPA: /ˈpɹɒbləm/
** Audio (Southern England):(file)
* (dated, Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈpɹɒblɪm/
* (General American) IPA: /ˈpɹɑbləm/
** Audio (US):(file)
* (Indic) IPA: /ˈprɒblam/
** (Tanglish) IPA: [ˈpɾɑːblõ]
* Hyphenation: prob‧lem

### Noun

problem (plural problems)
* A difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with.
    Hypernyms: challenge, issue, obstacle
    She's leaving because she faced numerous problems to do with racism.
** 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:“ […] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
** 2014 March 7, Nicole Vulser, “Perfume manufacturers must cope with the scarcity of precious supplies”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 190, number 13, page 30:The perfume industry is facing a major problem: maintaining constant levels of quality is crucial, but it is increasingly difficult to obtain a regular supply of all the necessary natural ingredients.
** An addiction, other substance use disorder, or comparable psychological challenge.
    Hyponyms: drinking problem, drug problem
    I think he has a gambling problem. Lending him money will probably only make it worse.
    I think he has a nose candy problem. Lending him money will probably only make it worse.
* A question to be answered, schoolwork exercise.
    Study hard, but don't overdo it. The problems in the exam won't be difficult to solve.
* A puzzling circumstance.
* Objection.
    You got a problem with that?
* Difficulty in accepting or understanding or refusal to accept or understand.
    You made your best honest effort; if they judge you harshly, that’s their problem, not yours.
* (climbing) A set of moves required to complete a climb.

#### Usage notes

Colloquially, "problem" in sense 1 can be put after an objective personal pronoun to create a noun phrase meaning "that person's/those people's problem."
    1994, Joel S. Weissman, Arnold M. Epstein, Falling Through the Safety Net: Insurance Status and Access to Health Care, page 30:Until Middle America understands lack of insurance and underinsurance as an "us" problem rather than a "them" problem, the motivation for change will be diminished.

#### Antonyms

* solution

#### Hyponyms

* Entscheidungsproblem

#### Derived terms

* ABA problem
* alcohol problem
* algorithmic problem
* Alhazen's problem
* alignment problem
* Apollonian problem
* a problem shared is a problem halved
* Archimedes' problem
* art gallery problem
* Basel problem
* behavior problem
* Behrens-Fisher problem
* binding problem
* birthday problem
* Bongard problem
* Brocard's problem
* Buffon's needle problem
* C10k problem
* C10K problem
* C10M problem
* Cadillac problem
* Canadian traveller problem
* candy store problem
* cannonball problem
* Cauchy problem
* champagne problem
* chicken-and-egg problem
* Chinese postman problem
* circle-ellipse problem
* combination problem
* constant problem
* core problem
* counterproblem
* crossed ladders problem
* decision problem
* dial-a-ride problem
* diamond problem
* distant starlight problem
* double empathy problem
* drinking problem
* drink problem
* drug problem
* Duhem-Quine problem
* eigenproblem
* extended problem-solving
* fairy problem
* fencepost problem
* Fermi problem
* file-drawer problem
* final parsec problem
* first world problem
* first-world problem
* First World problem
* fiscal problem
* frame problem
* free-rider problem
* Galton's problem
* Gettier problem
* goat grazing problem
* goat problem
* Gordan's problem
* grounding problem
* halting problem
* Heesch's problem
* horizon problem
* Houston, we have a problem
* illumination problem
* initial value problem
* initial-value problem
* is-ought problem
* is there a problem
* jealous husbands problem
* Josephus problem
* Kelvin problem
* kidnapped robot problem
* Kirkman's schoolgirl problem
* logic problem
* macroproblem
* majority problem
* many-body problem
* mathematical problem
* measurement problem
* metaproblem
* microproblem
* missionaries and cannibals problem
* Molyneux's problem
* Monty Hall problem
* Moser's worm problem
* move the problem
* moving sofa problem
* multiproblem
* museum problem
* n-body problem
* Newcomb's problem
* nonidentity problem
* nonproblem
* no problem
* one-banana problem
* open problem
* optimization problem
* Parsons problem
* presenting problem
* principal-agent problem
* private language problem
* problematic
* problematical
* problematize
* problem bear
* problem child
* problemed
* problemette
* problem gambling
* problem glasses
* problemise
* problemist
* problemize
* problem of evil
* problem page
* problem play
* problem-reaction-solution
* problem solve
* problem-solve
* problem-solver
* problemsolver
* problem solving
* problem-solving
* problemsome
* problem space
* problem statement
* Prouhet-Tarry-Escott problem
* pseudo-problem
* quantum measurement problem
* readers-writers problem
* scientific problem
* Scunthorpe problem
* secretary problem
* sleeping barber problem
* Sleeping Beauty problem
* snake-in-the-box problem
* sofa problem
* solution in search of a problem
* solution looking for a problem
* species problem
* stable marriage problem
* stable matching problem
* starlight problem
* sub-problem
* subproblem
* sunrise problem
* teething problem
* Thomson problem
* three body problem
* three-pipe problem
* thundering herd problem
* toy problem
* traveling-salesman problem
* traveling salesman problem
* travelling salesman problem
* travelling-salesman problem
* trolley problem
* Turán's brick factory problem
* two-body problem
* two child problem
* two children problem
* two envelopes problem
* Uber problem
* Waring's problem
* what is your problem
* what's your problem
* wheat and chessboard problem
* white bear problem
* wicked problem
* word problem
* XY problem
* year 2000 problem
* year 2038 problem
* you problem
* Zarankiewicz problem

#### Descendants

* → Welsh: problem

#### Translations
### Adjective

problem (comparative more problem, superlative most problem)
* (of a person or an animal) Difficult to train or guide; unruly.
* Causing a problem; problematic; troublesome.
** 2010, A. M. Aleksander, The Pride of the King‎:It is more problem to my family than to me.

#### See also

* trouble

#### Further reading

* “problem”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
* William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “problem”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
* “problem”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

## Azerbaijani
### Etymology

Internationalism; ultimately from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma).

### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Noun

problem (definite accusative problemi, plural problemlər)
* problem

#### Declension
## Crimean Tatar
### Etymology

French problème.

### Pronunciation

* Hyphenation: prob‧lem

### Noun

problem
* problem
    Synonym: problema

#### Declension
### References

* “problem”, in Luğatçıq (in Russian)

## Danish
### Noun

problem n (singular definite problemet, plural indefinite problemer)
* problem

#### Derived terms

* helseproblem
* hovedproblem
* problembarn
* rygproblem
* søvnproblem
* vægtproblem

### References

* “problem” in Den Danske Ordbog
* “problem” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

## Indonesian
### Etymology

From Dutch probleem, from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈproblem]
* Hyphenation: pro‧blém

### Noun

problem (plural problem-problem)
* problem
    Synonyms: masalah, perkara, persoalan

#### Related terms

* problematik
* problematis

### Further reading

* “problem” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

## Kashubian
### Alternative forms

* problema

### Etymology

Borrowed from Polish problem.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈprɔ.blɛm/
* Rhymes: -ɔblɛm
* Syllabification: pro‧blem

### Noun

problem m inan
* problem

#### Derived terms

* problemòwi

### Further reading

* Jan Trepczyk (1994) “problem”, in Słownik polsko-kaszubski (in Kashubian), volumes 1–2
* Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011) “problem”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi‎
* “problem”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022

## Middle English
### Noun

problem
* Alternative form of probleme

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Noun

problem n (definite singular problemet, indefinite plural problem or problemer, definite plural problema or problemene)
* problem

#### Derived terms

* helseproblem
* hovedproblem
* problembarn
* ryggproblem
* søvnproblem
* vektproblem

### References

* “problem” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /prʊˈbleːm/

### Noun

problem n (definite singular problemet, indefinite plural problem, definite plural problema)
* problem

#### Derived terms

* helseproblem
* problembarn
* ryggproblem
* søvnproblem
* vektproblem

### References

* “problem” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

## Polish
### Etymology

Borrowed from French problème. Displaced and doublet of problema, a borrowing directly from Latin. First attested in 1900.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈprɔ.blɛm/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -ɔblɛm
* Syllabification: pro‧blem

### Noun

problem m inan (diminutive problemik)
* problem (a difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with)
    Synonyms: bajer, (obsolete) problema, zagwozdka
* problem (a puzzling circumstance)

#### Derived terms

* problemowy

#### Related terms

* bezproblemowy
* bezproblemowo
* problemowo
* bezproblemowość
* problemowość

### Trivia

According to Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej (1990), problem is one of the most used words in Polish, appearing 43 times in scientific texts, 92 times in news, 153 times in essays, 11 times in fiction, and 9 times in plays, each out of a corpus of 100,000 words, totaling 308 times, making it the 164th most common word in a corpus of 500,000 words.

### References

* ↑ Stanisław Dubisz, editor (2003), “problem”, in Uniwersalny słownik języka polskiego [Universal dictionary of the Polish language]‎ (in Polish), volumes 1-4, Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN SA, →ISBN
* ↑ Mirosław Bańko, Lidia Wiśniakowska (2021) “problem”, in Wielki słownik wyrazów obcych, →ISBN
* ↑ Bańkowski, Andrzej (2000) “problem”, in Etymologiczny słownik języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish)
* ↑ Ida Kurcz (1990) “problem”, in Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej [Frequency dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), volume 1, Kraków, Warszawa: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Języka Polskiego, page 434

### Further reading

* problem in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* problem in Polish dictionaries at PWN
* problem in Narodowy Fotokorpus Języka Polskiego

## Romanian
### Noun

problem n (plural probleme)
* Alternative form of problemă

#### Declension
## Serbo-Croatian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /prǒbleːm/

### Noun

pròblēm m (Cyrillic spelling про̀бле̄м)
* problem

#### Declension
## Swedish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /prʊˈbleːm/, /prɔ-/, /-ˈblɛːm/
* Hyphenation: pro‧blem
* Audio; “ett problem”:(file)

### Noun

problem n
* a problem, an issue
    Jag har ett problemI have a problem
    Vi lyckades lösa problemetWe managed to solve the problem
    allvarliga problemserious problems
    Våra tekniker arbetar på att lösa problemetOur technicians are working on resolving the issue
** (in the plural) trouble
    Synonym: (colloquial) trubbel
    Ställ inte till med problemDon't cause trouble
** (usually in the plural) an issue (mental issue)
    Den där snubben har problemThat guy has issues
* a problem (to be solved as schoolwork exercise or the like)
    Synonyms: uppgift, fråga, (math) tal
    schackproblemchess problem

#### Related terms

* problematik
* problematisera
* problematisering
* problematisk
* problemavfall
* problembarn
* problembaserad
* problemdiktning
* problemdrama
* problemformulering
* problemfri
* problemfylld
* problemhärva
* probleminventering
* problemkomplex
* problemkredit
* problemlös
* problemlösare
* problemlösning
* problemområde
* problemorienterad
* problemsituation
* problemställning
* problemtyngd

#### See also

* kris
* komplikation
* strul

### References

* problem in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* problem in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
* problem in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

### Anagrams

* plomber

## Turkish
### Etymology

From French problème.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /pɾob.lɛm/

### Noun

problem (definite accusative problemi, plural problemler)
* problem
    Synonym: sorun

#### Declension

singular
plural
nominative
problem
problemler
definite accusative
problemi
problemleri
dative
probleme
problemlere
locative
problemde
problemlerde
ablative
problemden
problemlerden
genitive
problemin
problemlerin
Possessive forms
nominative
singular
plural
1st singular
problemim
problemlerim
2nd singular
problemin
problemlerin
3rd singular
problemi
problemleri
1st plural
problemimiz
problemlerimiz
2nd plural
probleminiz
problemleriniz
3rd plural
problemleri
problemleri
definite accusative
singular
plural
1st singular
problemimi
problemlerimi
2nd singular
problemini
problemlerini
3rd singular
problemini
problemlerini
1st plural
problemimizi
problemlerimizi
2nd plural
probleminizi
problemlerinizi
3rd plural
problemlerini
problemlerini
dative
singular
plural
1st singular
problemime
problemlerime
2nd singular
problemine
problemlerine
3rd singular
problemine
problemlerine
1st plural
problemimize
problemlerimize
2nd plural
probleminize
problemlerinize
3rd plural
problemlerine
problemlerine
locative
singular
plural
1st singular
problemimde
problemlerimde
2nd singular
probleminde
problemlerinde
3rd singular
probleminde
problemlerinde
1st plural
problemimizde
problemlerimizde
2nd plural
probleminizde
problemlerinizde
3rd plural
problemlerinde
problemlerinde
ablative
singular
plural
1st singular
problemimden
problemlerimden
2nd singular
probleminden
problemlerinden
3rd singular
probleminden
problemlerinden
1st plural
problemimizden
problemlerimizden
2nd plural
probleminizden
problemlerinizden
3rd plural
problemlerinden
problemlerinden
genitive
singular
plural
1st singular
problemimin
problemlerimin
2nd singular
probleminin
problemlerinin
3rd singular
probleminin
problemlerinin
1st plural
problemimizin
problemlerimizin
2nd plural
probleminizin
problemlerinizin
3rd plural
problemlerinin
problemlerinin
Predicative forms
singular
plural
1st singular
problemim
problemlerim
2nd singular
problemsin
problemlersin
3rd singular
problem problemdir
problemler problemlerdir
1st plural
problemiz
problemleriz
2nd plural
problemsiniz
problemlersiniz
3rd plural
problemler
problemlerdir :

#### Derived terms

* problem olmak
* problemli
* problemlilik
* problemsiz
* problemsizlik

#### Related terms

* problematik

## Vilamovian
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Noun

problem n
* problem

## Welsh
### Etymology

English problem, ultimately from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma).

### Pronunciation

* (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA: /ˈprɔblɛm/
** (North Wales, colloquial) IPA: /ˈprɔblam/
* (South Wales) IPA: /ˈprɔblɛm/

### Noun

problem f (plural problemau)
* problem

### Mutation

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh. All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

### Further reading

* R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “problem”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies