kaffer
See also: Käffer
English
Noun
kaffer (plural kaffers)
- Alternative form of kaffir.
Anagrams
Afrikaans
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Dutch kaffer, from Portuguese cafre, from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “infidel”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkafər/
Noun
kaffer (plural kaffers)
- (historical, obsolete) A Bantu person (as distinct from a Bushman)
- Synonym: Bantoe
- 1877, Genootskap van regte Afrikaners, Die geskiedenis van ons land in die taal van ons volk[1], Capetown, page 13:
- Die Kaffers is meer menselik a’s die Boesmans. Hulle is wel swarter van kleur, maar hulle is groter van lijf en beter geskape. Hulle lewensaart is oek nie so beestelik a’s die Boesmans syn nie.
- The Bantu are more human(e) than the Bushmen. Though they are blacker in colour, they are taller in built and better in shape. Moreover, their way of life is not so bestial as that of the Bushmen.
- (now offensive, ethnic slur) A black person, especially a Bantu.
Derived terms
Danish
Noun
kaffer c
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɑ.fər/
- Hyphenation: kaf‧fer
- Rhymes: -ɑfər
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Portuguese cafre, from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “infidel”).
Noun
kaffer m (plural kaffers, diminutive kaffertje n)
- (originally derogatory) a non-believer or an infidel from the Muslim viewpoint
- (offensive) a black person, notably a (Southern African) Bantu
Derived terms
Descendants
- Afrikaans: kaffer
- Sranan Tongo: kafri
- → Caribbean Hindustani: kafri
- → English: kaffir (or from another European language)
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Yiddish [Term?].
Noun
kaffer m (plural kaffers, diminutive kaffertje n)
- (derogatory) a stupid person, a numskull
- Synonyms: steenezel, uilskuiken
Derived terms
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
From Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “infidel”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kaf.fer/, [ˈkɑf.fəɾ]
Noun
kaffer m (definite singular kafferen, indefinite plural kaffere, definite plural kafferne)
- An archaic name for an African Bantu; a member of any ethnic group that speaks a Bantu language
- (derogatory) Any black person
Synonyms
References
- “kaffer” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Vilamovian
Etymology
From Middle High German gaffer.
Noun
kaffer m