coulrophobia

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• /kəʊl.ɹəˈfəʊ.bi.ə/
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• rhymes with -əʊbiə
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Coined in the late 1980s or 1990s, of unknown origin, appearing first, without further explanation, in lists of phobias circulating on the Internet. First use appears c. 1997 according to the OED. According to a widespread theory, the term is based on Ancient Greek κωλοβαθριστής (kōlobathristḗs, “one who goes on stilts”), allegedly chosen for lack of an obvious Ancient Greek equivalent of “clown”, + -phobia (“fear of”). This theory fails to explain the alteration of colo- to coulro-.

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Chinese Mandarin: 小丑恐惧症 (xiǎochǒu kǒngjùzhèng) — fear of clowns
• Esperanto: klaŭnofobio — fear of clowns
• Esperanto: koulrofobio — fear of clowns
• French: coulrophobie — fear of clowns
• German: Coulrophobie — fear of clowns
• Greek: κλοουνοφοβία (kloounofovía) — fear of clowns
• Hebrew: פַּחַד מלֵיצָנֵים — fear of clowns
• Italian: coulrofobia — fear of clowns
• Japanese: ピエロ恐怖症 (piero kyōfushō) — fear of clowns
• Japanese: 道化恐怖症 (dōkekyōfushō) — fear of clowns
• Korean: 광대공포증 (gwangdaegongpojeung) — fear of clowns
• Vietnamese: hội chứng sợ chú hề — fear of clowns
• Vietnamese: ám ảnh sợ hãi chú hề — fear of clowns
• Vietnamese: sợ hãi chú hề — fear of clowns
• Vietnamese: sợ chú hề — fear of clowns