What does "kaffir" mean?
In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
Kaffir
/ˈkæfə/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
- Grammar: kaffir is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: caffer, caffre, gentile, great millet.
- Usage evidence: He […] put me in imminent danger of my life, by telling the natives that I was a Caffer, and not a Mussulman.
How to use "kaffir"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kaffir" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kaffir" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kaffir" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kaffir" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kaffir" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "caffer" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kaffir", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim. countable, offensive
"He […] put me in imminent danger of my life, by telling the natives that I was a Caffer, and not a Mussulman."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of kaffir. alt-of
- 3 an offensive and insulting term for any Black African wordnet
- 4 A member of the Nguni people of southern Africa, especially a Xhosa. countable, offensive
"… the Hambonaas, a nation quite different from the Kaffers, having a yellowish complexion […]."
- 5 important for human and animal food; growth habit and stem form similar to Indian corn but having sawtooth-edged leaves wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A black person. Namibia, Rhodesia, South-Africa, countable, derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur
"I rang the bell, and a smiling Kafir boy answered it."
- 7 A language spoken by the Nguni peoples of southern Africa, especially Xhosa. historical, offensive, uncountable
"This man, seeing a white person enter, moved aside for her, but she saw Joss's eyes on her, and said in kitchen kaffir, ‘No, when you've finished.’"
- 8 South African mining shares countable, historical, slang, uncountable
"Kaffirs bouyant most of last week"
- 9 Ellipsis of kaffir corn. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable
"This market reports only one or two cars per day, selling by the hundred weight, and at a price a little lower than that of Indian corn. As to the purpose for which the marketed kaffir is used, there is some uncertainty."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"He […] put me in imminent danger of my life, by telling the natives that I was a Caffer, and not a Mussulman."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kaffir"?
Common synonyms include: caffer, caffre, gentile, great millet, infidel, kaffir corn.
How do you use "kaffir" in a sentence?
He […] put me in imminent danger of my life, by telling the natives that I was a Caffer, and not a Mussulman.
How do you pronounce "kaffir"?
Pronounced /ˈkæfə/.
Etymology
Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir.