Kaffir

American  

[kaf-er, kah-fer] / ˈkæf ər, ˈkɑ fər /

noun

plural

Kaffirs,

plural

Kaffir

1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. (in South Africa) a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person: originally used of the Xhosa people only.

2. none kaffir kafir.

3. Islam. none kaffir kafir.

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Kaffir British  

/ ˈkæfə /

noun

1. taboo (in southern Africa) any Black African

2. offensive (among Muslims) a non-Muslim or infidel

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Sensitive Note

In reference to a Black person, Kaffir was a neutral term during the colonial period, but in post-apartheid South Africa it is considered hate speech, to be avoided by using the euphemistic K-word, much like the N-word.

Usage

In South Africa the use of this word is nowadays completely taboo, and is indeed actionable in the courts. It is also advisable not to use the word in any of the compounds to which it gave rise

Other Word Forms

• non-Kaffir noun

Etymology

Origin of Kaffir

First recorded in 1570–80; from Arabic kāfir “unbeliever, skeptic”