Sauvages

Sauvages is the plural form of the French adjective sauvage, meaning wild or untamed. The word derives from Latin silvaticus, via Old French, and in ordinary usage describes things that are natural, uncultivated, or not domesticated. As a noun, sauvage historically referred to a person living in a wild state, and its plural sauvages has carried pejorative overtones in past contexts.

In ethnography and historical travel writing, the term sauvages was often used to classify non-European peoples or groups perceived as “uncivilized.” In modern scholarship and ethical discourse, the term is typically avoided or problematized, with preference given to more precise and respectful terminology such as indigenous peoples, specific ethnic or cultural groups, or local populations.

In science and horticulture, sauvage (and its plural sauvages) can denote a wild or natural form of a species, in contrast to cultivated varieties. This usage helps distinguish native or undomesticated populations from human-selected cultivars, and is common in taxonomy, botany, and agriculture.

In arts and culture, Sauvages appears in titles, names, or thematic references intended to evoke wildness, primality, or a critique of civilization. The exact sense depends on context and the creator’s intention.

As a surname or toponym, Sauvages may appear in French-speaking regions, though such uses are comparatively rare and highly context-dependent. See also Sauvage, and disambiguation resources for related terms.