Ethnische

Ethnische is a German adjective meaning “ethnic,” used to describe things relating to an ethnos, a group defined by shared culture, language, ancestry, or self-identification. In German, it appears in phrases such as ethnische Gruppe (ethnic group), ethnische Zugehörigkeit (ethnic affiliation), and ethnische Herkunft (ethnic origin). The related noun Ethnie denotes such a group, while Ethnizität refers to the broader concept of ethnicity as a social and cultural construct rather than a biological category.

Usage and context: In sociology, anthropology, and public discourse, ethnische is used to discuss demography, integration, or minority rights, and to characterize policies or statistics by ethnic background. It is important to distinguish ethnicity from nationality or race; ethnicity is often self-identified and can change with context, and is treated as fluid rather than fixed.

Historical notes: The concept has roots in 19th-century ethnology and has evolved; in modern discourse some scholars emphasize its constructed nature and the potential for essentializing individuals when misapplied.

See also: Ethnie, Ethnizität, Rasse, Nationalität, Migration.