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Glite Dictionary
caffre

caffre

9.9
An offensive word for Black African people that is now deeply insulting and should not be used
  • noun
  • Slur
: [insulto racial para africanos]
  • The word caffre is now understood to be deeply offensive and should never be used.

Examples

  • Historical texts sometimes contain the word caffre, reflecting past prejudices.

  • He was shocked to hear someone utter the term caffre in conversation.

  • The term caffre is considered deeply offensive.

  • Using the word caffre in any context is unacceptable.

  • The word caffre is now understood to be deeply offensive and should never be used.

  • He was shocked to hear someone utter the term caffre in conversation.

  • Using the word caffre in any context is unacceptable.

Surface Forms

caffre singular
caffres plural

Etymology

The word caffre comes from the Arabic word kafir, which means 'unbeliever', and passed into European languages such as Portuguese cafre during early contact in Africa. It was used by some people as an insult to mark and dehumanize Black Africans, so today caffre is deeply offensive and must not be used.