Transcript 05/23/16 Kim Risvy (1Q contestant)

[BBTranscriptTeam]

Kim Risvy
Connecticut

$1K Though we might use it to describe a kooky person, which of these is Spanish for “brave” or “generous”?
A. Wackadoo
B. Loony
C. Bizarro
D. Cray-cray

Spoiler

C. Bizarro
Kim wins $1K

end of show

[andrewjackson]

Bizarro v. bizarre is interesting. The Spanish meaning may come from the same origin as the original French which is where we get "bizarre" in English. One theory is that they both come from bizar in Basque which means "bearded". It was probably spread by Basque soldiers. The Spanish took that adjective to mean someone with a beard was courageous sort of like how we often associate a long beard with wisdom. The French took it as someone with a beard was weird or angry. I guess it depends on whose side the soldiers were fighting.

It could also come from bizzarro in Italian which means odd or angry. The French probably got it from them while the Spanish took a different route to a word that now looks similar.