An ethnic out-group (also sometimes "outgroup" without hyphen)
is a group of people which does not belong to a particular ethnic group, religion or nationality. Many cultures have terms referring to all outsiders, but in practice this often becomes narrowed to the largest outsider group.
Out-group terms are sometimes, but not always, considered to be
derogatory
A pejorative word, phrase, slur, or derogatory term is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility ...
, depending on the word and the context and manner in which it is used. The extent to which specific terms (such as ''allochtoon'' in the Netherlands or ''Pākehā'' in New Zealand) should be considered offensive is often a source of public debate. Nonetheless, these terms can be distinguished from
ethnic slurs
The following is a list of ethnic slurs, ethnophaulisms, or ethnic epithets that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnic, national, or racial group or to refer to them in a derogatory, pejorat ...
which are ''always'' derogatory and always refer to specific ethnic groups (rather than outsiders in general).
These terms are principally used by the members of an ethnic group (the in-group) to refer to outsiders (the out-group). However, in some cases the terms are used more widely, including by members of the out-group to describe themselves in relation to the group concerned. For example, the word
gentile
''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...
(non-Jew) is used by both Jewish and non-Jewish people.
A
;
Ajam
(, ) is an Arabic word for a non-Arab, especially a Persian. It was historically used as a pejorative—figuratively ascribing muteness to those whose native language is not Arabic—during and after the Muslim conquest of Iran. Since the ea ...
:(
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
; عجم) Literally: mumbler, a person who cannot speak proper Arabic. A traditional term for non-Arabs (literally as those who cannot speak, or cannot be understood), often specifically applied to
Persians
Persians ( ), or the Persian people (), are an Iranian ethnic group from West Asia that came from an earlier group called the Proto-Iranians, which likely split from the Indo-Iranians in 1800 BCE from either Afghanistan or Central Asia. They ...
. Derogatory implications depend on context.
;
Ajnabi
:(
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
; اجنبی) Literally: Stranger, foreigner or alien. Traditionally used for westerners.
;
Allochtoon
:A
Dutch term (from the Greek ἀλλος-allos) that literally means "originating from another country". Refers to both immigrants and their descendants. Officially refers to any person with at least one immigrant parent. Not usually considered offensive.
;
Anērān also Anirani
:Pre-Islamic Persian term referring to people who are both non-Iranians and non-Zoroastrians, most used in Middle Persian and Early Modern Persian texts.
;
Ang mo
:A
Hokkien
Hokkien ( , ) is a Varieties of Chinese, variety of the Southern Min group of Chinese language, Chinese languages. Native to and originating from the Minnan region in the southeastern part of Fujian in southeastern China, it is also referred ...
term () referring to white people.
;
Ausländer
:Ausländer is a German word meaning foreigner or
alien. Literally "out-land-er".
B
;
Barbarian
A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice.
A "barbarian" may ...
:Although the modern usage of the word may carry a different meaning, historically this term was used to denote non-Greek-speaking people and later anyone not belonging to Greek or Roman civilization.
;
Bilagáana
:(Bilagáana) is the Navajo word for white people or people of European descent.
C
;Cudzoziemiec
:A non-derogatory Polish word meaning foreigner or alien. It can be literally translated as "person of another's land".
E
;Englischer
:A non-derogatory
Pennsylvanian Dutch word used by the
Amish
The Amish (, also or ; ; ), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church fellowships with Swiss people, Swiss and Alsace, Alsatian origins. As they ...
to refer to a non-Amish person.
;English
:A non-derogatory
English Amish term to refer to the non-Amish,
derived from the Pennsylvanian Dutch ''Englisch''/''Englischer'' (see above).
F
;
Farang
Farang () is a Persian word that originally referred to the Franks (the major Germanic people) and later came to refer to Western or Latin Europeans in general. The word is borrowed from Old French or Latin , which are also the source of ...
:(
Thai; ฝรั่ง) A generic term for foreigner used to refer to those of
European ancestry and can be used to refer to plants or animals that are foreign in origin as an adjective. The word Farang derives - via tenth century Arabic and then Persian - from ''Frank,'' referring to the Germanic people that gave their name to modern France.
;
Farangi
:(
Persian; فرنگی) A
Persian term for foreigner. The word derives from ''
Franks
file:Frankish arms.JPG, Aristocratic Frankish burial items from the Merovingian dynasty
The Franks ( or ; ; ) were originally a group of Germanic peoples who lived near the Rhine river, Rhine-river military border of Germania Inferior, which wa ...
''. May have derogatory connotations.
G
;
Gaijin
:(
Japanese; 外人) Literally 'out person', usually used in context to refer someone who is ethnically not Japanese. Considered politically incorrect and often derogatory by those it refers to. Because Japanese is a highly contextual language, it is possible to use the word "Gaijin" without derogatory intent; however, "Gaikokujin" (外国人) literally "out country person", is highly preferred to remain politically correct and avoid misunderstanding.
;
Gadjo
:(
Romany) A Romany term meaning "house dweller," used to refer to a non-Roma.
;'
Galla''
:(
Abyssinia
Abyssinia (; also known as Abyssinie, Abissinia, Habessinien, or Al-Habash) was an ancient region in the Horn of Africa situated in the northern highlands of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea.Sven Rubenson, The survival of Ethiopian independence, ...
n) A term used by
Abyssinian Christians
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
to refer to non-Christian, mainly non-
Semitic Cushitic
The Cushitic languages are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. They are spoken primarily in the Horn of Africa, with minorities speaking Cushitic languages to the north in Egypt and Sudan, and to the south in Kenya and Tanzania. As of 2 ...
Pagans, and
Muslims
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
. It was employed in official documents and communications until the fall of the
Solomonic Dynasty in 1974.
:The use of the term mainly pointed to the
Oromo due to their numerical superiority over other groups that were collectively referred to by this term during the period of the
Ethiopian monarchy.
;
Gentile
''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...
:(English) Term used in English principally to mean "non-Jew". Gentile derives from Latin 'Gentes/Gentilis' a word which originally meant "people" or "tribe" but which evolved in the early Christian era to refer to a non-Jew. In Judaism the word 'Goy' (see below) followed the same journey over the same period: also evolving from meaning "nation" or "tribe" to mean non-Jew. Some
Christian groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably
Mormons
Mormons are a Religious denomination, religious and ethnocultural group, cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's d ...
, have traditionally used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders, but such usage has declined among Mormons.
;
Giaour
:(
Turkish; ''gâvur'') Also spelled Ghiaour or Gavur, a generic term for a non-Muslim or non-Turk, often used specifically for Christians, particularly the local Greeks and Armenians. It's always considered derogatory.
;Gorbatti
:(
Nubian) It literally means land worker but is used to refer generally to non-Nubians in Egyptian Nubia. The word is composed of two words, (Gor) which means land, and (batti) which means to work.
;
Goy
:(
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
,
Yiddish
Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...
; גוי (borrowed into
English)) A non-
Jew
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...
, or
gentile
''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...
. The modern meaning of ''goy'' evolved from Biblical Hebrew: in the Bible ''goy'' means a nation or a tribe, and can refer to both the nation of Israel and other nations. In English usage the word can sometimes be derogatory.
;
Gringo
:(Latin American
Spanish and
Portuguese; feminine form ''gringa'') A term used to refer to foreigners in
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
n countries, typically used to refer to those from English-speaking countries. It can be used, depending on country of origin, to mean any non-Spanish speaker, an Anglophone person, a light-haired or light skinned person, or a non-
Iberian European.
;
Guiri
:(
Spanish) A term originally to refer to uncouth foreign tourists, particularly from the United Kingdom but is applied to include people from other Northern European countries.
;
Gweilo
:(
Cantonese
Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) and its surrounding Pearl River Delta. While th ...
) A Cantonese term literally meaning "ghost man" though often translated to English as ''foreign devil'' used to refer to Europeans in a derogatory manner.
H
;
Haole
''Haole'' (; ) is a Hawaiian term for individuals who are not Native Hawaiian, and is applied to people primarily of European ancestry.
Background
The origins of the word predate the 1778 arrival of Captain James Cook, as recorded in several ...
:(
Hawaiian, widely adopted in English, pronounced: How-leh) A universal term for foreigner, can be used for people, plants or animals that are non-Hawaiian in origin. The phrase has been linked to anti-foreigner hate crimes in Hawaii.
;
Heathen
:Refers to those who are not Christian, Jewish or Muslim. The term is old-fashioned and derogatory.
J
;Juddin
:(Persian) Non-Zoroastrian
K
;
Kafir
''Kāfir'' (; , , or ; ; or ) is an Arabic-language term used by Muslims to refer to a non-Muslim, more specifically referring to someone who disbelieves in the Islamic God, denies his authority, and rejects the message of Islam as ...
:(
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
, كافر kāfir; plural كفّار kuffār) A non-Muslim, may include
People of the Book
People of the Book, or ''Ahl al-Kitāb'' (), is a classification in Islam for the adherents of those religions that are regarded by Muslims as having received a divine revelation from Allah, generally in the form of a holy scripture. The clas ...
(a term including Christians and Jews) depending on context. ''
Kafir
''Kāfir'' (; , , or ; ; or ) is an Arabic-language term used by Muslims to refer to a non-Muslim, more specifically referring to someone who disbelieves in the Islamic God, denies his authority, and rejects the message of Islam as ...
'' is sometimes deployed in disputes between groups of self-professed Muslims. The term may be seen as outdated and derogatory.
;
Kawaja
: (
Sudanese Dinka) Used to refer to a purely white person with no black ancestry. Not derogatory in any usage.
M
;
Mawali
''Mawlā'' (, plural ''mawālī'' ), is a polysemous Arabic word, whose meaning varied in different periods and contexts.A.J. Wensinck, Encyclopedia of Islam 2nd ed, Brill. "Mawlā", vol. 6, p. 874.
Before the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the te ...
:(
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
; موالي) A classical term for a non-Arab Muslim. Fell out of use after the
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...
revolution.
;
Mleccha
Mleccha () is a Sanskrit term referring to those of an incomprehensible speech, foreigners or invaders deemed distinct and separate from the Vedic tribes. In Vedic Brahmanical discourse, the term is used to refer to foreigners (anāryans) who ...
:(
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
); A Vedic Sanskrit term for a non-Aryan person. In recent times has taken on a derogatory meaning for non-Hindus.
O
;Oegugin
:(
Korean; 외국인) meaning foreigner or alien. Used frequently in daily life by Koreans to refer to non-Korean people who are visiting or living in Korea, particularly people who aren't East Asian. The related slang term ''oekuk-saran'' modifies correct Korean ''-gug'' to ''-kuk'' to imitate a common mispronunciation by foreigners. This may be considered derogatory.
P
;
Palagi
:(
Samoan, pronounced Palangi) A term used throughout the
South Pacific to refer to (typically
Caucasian) non-Polynesian foreigners.
;
Pākehā
''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
:(
Maori, adopted into
English) A Maori term for non-Polynesians living in
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
, usually used for those of
European descent specifically, though also used for non-Maori in general. In its narrower definition, acceptance of the term varies amongst those it describes. It is commonly used by a range of journalists and columnists from ''
The New Zealand Herald
''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand.
It has the largest newspaper circulation in New Zealand, ...
'', New Zealand's largest-circulation daily newspaper. It is accepted wholeheartedly by some of the people it describes but was dropped as a descriptive term from the 2001
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
because of potential offence.
;
Pytaguá
:(
Guarani) A Guarani term for strangers.
S
Stranac:
Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...
(
Cyrillic
The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking countries in Southeastern Europe, Ea ...
spellin
стра́нац a term literally meaning stranger, used in the countries that made up
Former Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...
to refer to any foreigner or alien. The term is still used legally in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
but has been phased out of use in
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
and
Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
.
T
;Tapuia
:A
Tupi term used in the colonial period of Brazil for all non-Tupi indigenous peoples.
W
;
Wasi'chu
:Term for a non-indigenous, particularly white person in the Sioux Dakota and Lakota languages. Widely adopted in English in works critical of colonialism on the erroneous, folk-etymology belief that it derives from the term for "he who takes the fat."
Y
;Yankee
:An uncommon term used among the Amish of
Geauga County,
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
to refer to non-Amish people.
:Also traditionally used by American Southerners to describe anyone in the U.S. from outside the South, or anyone not a part of historical Southern culture.
See also
*
List of ethnic slurs
The following is a list of ethnic slurs, ethnophaulisms, or ethnic epithets that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given Ethnic group, ethnic, Nationality, national, or racial group or to refer to them ...
*
List of religious slurs
The following is a list of religious slurs or religious insults in the English language that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about adherents or non-believers of a given religion or irreligion, or to refer to them in a der ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of Terms For Ethnic Exogroups
*Exogroups
*