The word turmoil, meaning a state of great disturbance or confusion, is spelled with a silent "o" in the middle, which can be tricky to remember. The IPA phonetic transcription for turmoil is /tɜːmɔɪl/, which shows that the "o" in the middle is pronounced as the sound /ɜː/ (like the "ur" in "burn") and the "u" at the beginning is pronounced as /tjʊə/ (like the "t" sound followed by "you" together). Despite the unusual spelling, the word "turmoil" is a commonly used English word.
Turmoil is a noun that refers to a state of extreme confusion, disorder, or agitation. It is characterized by a lack of peace, tranquility, or stability. When a situation or environment is in turmoil, there is typically a high level of unrest, disturbance, and chaos.
The term turmoil is often used in contexts involving social or political unrest, such as during times of civil unrest, riots, or revolutions. In these circumstances, there may be widespread clashes between different groups, protests, or violent acts that disrupt the normal functioning of society. Turmoil can also be seen during times of economic crises, as seen in stock market crashes or financial meltdowns.
On a more personal level, turmoil can describe the emotional state of an individual who is experiencing inner conflict, uncertainty, or turmoil in their thoughts and feelings. This could be due to a variety of factors such as relationship problems, personal challenges, or intense stress.
In summary, turmoil is a word that describes a state of great disorder, confusion, or agitation, either on a larger societal scale or within an individual's emotions and thoughts. It signifies a lack of stability, peace, and tranquility, and is often associated with disruptive or chaotic situations.
• Disturbance; harassing labour; trouble and confusion; tumult.
• To harass with commotion; to weary; to be disquieted.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "turmoil" originated from the Middle French term "tourmoil" or "tumulte", which was derived from the Old French word "tremouille" meaning "a trembling or quaking". It can be traced back further to the Latin verb "tremulare", meaning "to shake" or "to tremble". The word "turmoil" gradually evolved to its present form in English, describing a state of confusion, disorder, or agitation.