barbaar

Barbaar is a term used in Dutch to denote a barbarian or an uncivilized person. In everyday language it carries pejorative connotations, referring to someone perceived as lacking refinement, culture, or social norms. The word can be used descriptively in historical contexts or as an insult in colloquial speech. In plural form, barbaren, it appears in both literary and popular contexts when discussing ancient or mythical outsiders.

Etymology and linguistic development. Barbaar derives from Latin barbarus, which itself comes from Greek barbaros. The Greek term originally described anyone who did not speak Greek, a label tied to the sound of foreign speech rather than to a specific group. Through Latin and French, the form barbare and related derivatives entered various European languages, including Dutch. Over time, the sense expanded from a neutral descriptor of foreign speakers to a more general and judgmental notion of cultural inferiority.

Historical usage. In classical antiquity, barbarian referred to peoples beyond the Greek world or the Roman Empire, often implying cultural difference rather than a universal moral judgment. In later historical writing and literature, the term retained a conventionally pejorative aura, used to contrast “civilized” civilizations with outsiders. In modern scholarship, the term is approached with caution because of its ethnocentric implications, and many writers prefer more precise ethnographic or historical labels.

See also. Related terms in other languages include the German Barbaren and the English barbarian, which share the same roots but differ in contemporary usage and nuance.