Dictionary

barbarian en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /bɑɹˈbɛəɹ.i.ən/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /bɑː(ɹ)ˈbɛə.ɹi.ən/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros)bor. Latin barbarus Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Medieval Latin barbaria Medieval Latin barbarinusbor. Middle English barbarian English barbarian From Middle English barbarian, borrowed from Medieval Latin barbarinus (“Berber, pagan, foreigner”), from Latin barbaria (“foreign country”), from barbarus (“foreigner, savage”), from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “foreign, non-Greek, strange”), possibly onomatopoeic (mimicking foreign languages, akin to English blah blah). Cognate to Sanskrit बर्बर (barbara, “barbarian, non-Aryan, stammering, blockhead”).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Relating to people, countries, or customs perceived as uncivilized or inferior.

Deriveds

semibarbarian · barbarianism · barbarianess

Synonyms

grim · truculent · uncultured · barbarous · uncultivated · Gothlike · barbarious · heathenous · uncouth · barbaric · heathen · tenebrose · animalistic · heathenly · pagan · barbarious · wolfish · savage · incivil · uncivil · uncivilized · brutal · barbaric · barbarian · Gothic · brutish · barbarous · heathenish · uplandish

Translations (77)

sq i paqytetëruar (uncivilized) · fr barbare (uncivilized) · is barbarískur (uncivilized) · ar هَمَجِيّ (uncivilized) · nn barbarisk (uncivilized) · sq i barbar (uncivilized) · sh vàrvarskī (uncivilized) · cs barbarský (uncivilized) · sv barbarisk (uncivilized) · uz vahshiy (uncivilized) · be ба́рбарскі (uncivilized) · hu barbár (uncivilized) · nl barbaars (uncivilized) · be дзі́кі (uncivilized) · de barbarisch (uncivilized) · sa बर्बर (uncivilized) · el βάρβαρος (uncivilized) · ar مُتَوَحِّش (uncivilized) · sh дѝвља̄чкӣ (uncivilized) · ky варвар (uncivilized) · sog ܒܪܒܪܥܝܩ (uncivilized) · grc βαρβαρικός (uncivilized) · sw shenzi (uncivilized) · uz vahshiyona (uncivilized) · el βαρβαρικός (uncivilized) · ca bàrbar (uncivilized) · sh dìvljāčkī (uncivilized) · fa بربری (uncivilized) · uk дику́нський (uncivilized) · sk barbarský (uncivilized) · tg ваҳшӣ (uncivilized) · et barbaarne (uncivilized) · da barbarisk (uncivilized) · lt barbariškas (uncivilized) · ja 野蛮な (uncivilized) · pl barbarzyński (uncivilized) · ru ди́кий (uncivilized) · tg ваҳшиёна (uncivilized) · bg див (uncivilized) · he בַּרְבָּרִי (uncivilized) · pt bárbaro (uncivilized) · az vəhşi (uncivilized) · mi moho(w)ao (uncivilized) · kk варварлық (uncivilized) · fa وحشی (uncivilized) · ru ва́рварский (uncivilized) · kk варвар (uncivilized) · lv barbarisks (uncivilized) · gl bárbaro (uncivilized) · bg ва́рварски (uncivilized) · cmn 不文明 (uncivilized) · sh ба̀рбарскӣ (uncivilized) · is villimannslegur (uncivilized) · uk ва́рварський (uncivilized) · cmn 胡 (uncivilized) · sl barbarski (uncivilized) · fi barbaarimainen (uncivilized) · cmn 野蠻 /野蛮 (uncivilized) · sh bàrbarskī (uncivilized) · fi barbaarinen (uncivilized) · fa وحشیانه (uncivilized) · hy բարբարոսական (uncivilized) · be ва́рварскі (uncivilized) · nb barbarisk (uncivilized) · tr barbar (uncivilized) · az barbar (uncivilized) · zza barbar (uncivilized) · be дзіку́нскі (uncivilized) · ka ბარბაროსი (uncivilized) · tg барбарӣ (uncivilized) · sh ва̀рварскӣ (uncivilized) · it barbaro (uncivilized) · be барбары́нскі (uncivilized) · vi dã man (uncivilized) · ro barbar (uncivilized) · uk ди́кий (uncivilized) · mk варварски (uncivilized)

barbarian en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /bɑɹˈbɛəɹ.i.ən/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /bɑː(ɹ)ˈbɛə.ɹi.ən/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros)bor. Latin barbarus Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Medieval Latin barbaria Medieval Latin barbarinusbor. Middle English barbarian English barbarian From Middle English barbarian, borrowed from Medieval Latin barbarinus (“Berber, pagan, foreigner”), from Latin barbaria (“foreign country”), from barbarus (“foreigner, savage”), from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “foreign, non-Greek, strange”), possibly onomatopoeic (mimicking foreign languages, akin to English blah blah). Cognate to Sanskrit बर्बर (barbara, “barbarian, non-Aryan, stammering, blockhead”).

Meanings

1. (historical) A non-Greek or a non-Roman citizen.
2. An uncivilized or uncultured person, originally compared to the hellenistic Greco-Roman civilisation; usually associated with senseless violence and self-harm or other such shows of brute force and lack of mental faculty.
3. (derogatory) A person destitute of culture; a Philistine.
   • Shall a noble writer, and an inspired noble writer, be called a solecist, and barbarian, for giving a new turn to a word so agreeable to the analogy and genius of the Greek tongue? 1725, Anthony Blackwall, The Sacred Classics Defended And Illustrated:
4. (derogatory) Someone from a developing country or backward culture.
5. A brutish warrior depicted in sword and sorcery and other fantasy works; typically clad in primitive furs or leather and usually favoring physical strength over intelligence while often possessing a bellicose temperament and disdain for laws.
6. (derogatory) A cruel, savage, inhumane, brutal, violently aggressive person, particularly one who is unintelligent or dim-witted; one without pity or empathy.
   • Thou fell barbarian. 1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother:
7. (derogatory) A foreigner, especially with barbaric qualities as in the above definitions.

Forms

Relateds

rhubarb · barbarity · barbarize · barbary · barbarism · outlander

Synonyms

outlander · alien (foreigner) · peregrine

Translations (188)

uk ва́рвар (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · mi paweriana (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · sh ба̏рбарин (uncivilized person) · ro barbară (uncivilized person) · ca bàrbar (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · mi moho(w)ao (uncivilized person) · sa म्लेच्छ (uncivilized person) · sq barbar (uncivilized person) · be дзіку́н (uncivilized person) · be ба́рбар (uncivilized person) · ar هَمَجِيّ (uncivilized person) · fr barbare (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · pt bárbaro (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · pl barbarzyńca (a cruel, savage, brutal person; one without pity or humanity) · pl barbarzynka (uncivilized person) · ru ва́рвар (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh ба̀рба̄рка (uncivilized person) · ja 野蛮 (uncivilized person) · hu barbár (uncivilized person) · ka ბარბაროსი (uncivilized person) · el βάρβαρος (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · bg дива́чка (uncivilized person) · fi mutiainen (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · ja 野蛮人 (uncivilized person) · mk варварин (uncivilized person) · bg дива́к (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · af barbaar (uncivilized person) · da barbar (uncivilized person) · hi बर्बर (uncivilized person) · yi באַרבאַר (uncivilized person) · es bárbaro (uncivilized person) · sv barbar (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · tr barbar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · uz barbar (uncivilized person) · sh varvar (uncivilized person) · cmn 番子 (uncivilized person) · sh varvarin (uncivilized person) · sl barbar (uncivilized person) · sh варварин (uncivilized person) · sh дивља̀куша (uncivilized person) · sk barbar (uncivilized person) · el βάρβαρος (uncivilized person) · sh bàrbar (uncivilized person) · grc βάρβαρος (uncivilized person) · mk варварка (uncivilized person) · hy բարբարոս (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · uk ва́рвар (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · hy բարբարոս (uncivilized person) · be ва́рварка (uncivilized person) · pt bárbaro (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · et barbar (uncivilized person) · sh bàrbārka (uncivilized person) · sh ба̀рбар (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · pl barbarzyńca (uncivilized person) · tr barbar (uncivilized person) · la barbara (uncivilized person) · bg ва́рварка (uncivilized person) · sh divljàkinja (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · el απολίτιστος (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sw mshenzi (uncivilized person) · th อนารยชน (uncivilized person) · kk варвар (uncivilized person) · mk варвар (uncivilized person) · sh ба̀рба̄рка (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · ru дика́рка (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · fr barbare (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · gmy 𐀞𐀞𐀫 (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · sh варвар (uncivilized person) · tg барбар (uncivilized person) · uz varvar (uncivilized person) · ja 夷人 (uncivilized person) · el βάρβαρος (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · sh bȁrbarin (uncivilized person) · fi barbaari (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · nl wilde (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · el βάρβαρος (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · az barbar (uncivilized person) · lo ອະນາລະຍະຊົນ (uncivilized person) · vi rợ (uncivilized person) · sh дивља̀киња (uncivilized person) · ru дика́рь (uncivilized person) · bg дива́чка (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · ca bàrbar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · fr barbare (uncivilized person) · it barbara (uncivilized person) · pl barbarzyńca (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · bg дива́к (uncivilized person) · cmn 夷 (uncivilized person) · be ба́рбарка (uncivilized person) · uk ва́рварка (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · uk селю́к (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · ru дика́рь (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · gl bárbaro (uncivilized person) · gl bárbara (uncivilized person) · ky варвар (uncivilized person) · cs barbar (uncivilized person) · sa बर्बर (uncivilized person) · sh varvarka (uncivilized person) · hu barbár (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · fi raakalainen (uncivilized person) · nl barbaar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · cs barbarka (uncivilized person) · ja 蛮人 (uncivilized person) · pl dzikuska (uncivilized person) · sh варварка (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh дѝвља̄к (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · de Barbar (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · cmn 落後的人 /落后的人 (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · eo barbaro (uncivilized person) · ko 야만인 (uncivilized person) · uk ва́рварка (uncivilized person) · bg ва́рварин (uncivilized person) · nrf barbare (uncivilized person) · nb barbar (uncivilized person) · pt bárbara (uncivilized person) · cmn 蠻人 /蛮人 (uncivilized person) · ga barbarach (uncivilized person) · de Barbar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh varvarin (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · tr barbar (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · uk ва́рварка (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · zza barbarin (a cruel, savage, brutal person; one without pity or humanity) · zza barbar (uncivilized person) · sh дѝвља̄к (uncivilized person) · uk ва́рварка (a cruel, savage, brutal person; one without pity or humanity) · uk дику́нка (uncivilized person) · ru ва́рварка (uncivilized person) · sh варварка (uncivilized person) · lt barbaras (uncivilized person) · sh varvarka (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · uk ва́рвар (uncivilized person) · sh ба̏рбарин (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh dìvljāk (uncivilized person) · pt bárbaro (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · nl barbaar (uncivilized person) · sa दस्यु (uncivilized person) · ca bàrbar (uncivilized person) · fa بربر (uncivilized person) · sh дивља̀куша (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · uk дику́н (uncivilized person) · sk barbarka (uncivilized person) · ko 오랑캐 (uncivilized person) · sh ба̀рбар (uncivilized person) · ru ва́рвар (uncivilized person) · cmn 野蠻人 /野蛮人 (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · es bárbara (uncivilized person) · gl bárbaro (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · cy anwariad (uncivilized person) · la barbarus (uncivilized person) · be дзіку́нка (uncivilized person) · sh dìvljāk (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh divljàkinja (uncivilized person) · nn barbar (uncivilized person) · ro varvar (uncivilized person) · ro barbar (uncivilized person) · sh bàrbārka (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sl barbarka (uncivilized person) · nl primitieveling (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · ro varvară (uncivilized person) · de Barbarin (uncivilized person) · ru ва́рварка (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · lv barbars (uncivilized person) · sh варварин (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh варвар (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh bàrbar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · de Barbar (uncivilized person) · be ва́рвар (uncivilized person) · vi mọi (uncivilized person) · ru ва́рвар (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · sh bȁrbarin (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh divljàkuša (uncivilized person) · uk ва́рвар (a cruel, savage, brutal person; one without pity or humanity) · sh дивља̀киња (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sv barbar (uncivilized person) · pl barbarzyńca (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · sh divljàkuša (derogatory term for someone from a developing country) · fi barbaari (uncivilized person) · pl dzikus (uncivilized person) · it barbaro (uncivilized person) · cmn 野蠻人 /野蛮人 (uncivilized person) · ar بَرْبَرِيّ (uncivilized person) · grc βάρβαρος (a non-Greek or a non-Roman) · ru дика́рка (uncivilized person) · cy barbariad (uncivilized person) · pt bárbaro (uncivilized person) · nl barbaar (warrior associated with Sword and Sorcery stories) · is barbari (uncivilized person) · sh varvar (derogatory term for someone from a developing country)