tabu

Tabu, also spelled tabu or tapu, refers to a prohibition or ban enacted by social norms, religious doctrine, or sacred law that forbids certain actions, objects, persons, or practices. In many Pacific and Polynesian cultures, tabu carries a strong sense of sacredness and obliges people to observe ritual restrictions. In English, the standard form is taboo, while tabu and tapu remain in use in some languages and contexts.

Etymology and usage: The concept and term entered English through contact with Polynesian languages in the 18th century. Tabu is the spelling used in some languages such as Māori and Hawaiian, and tapu is another cognate form. In contemporary English, taboo is the common spelling.

Cultural manifestations: Taboos can regulate a wide range of areas, including food preparation and consumption, contact with the dead, sexuality and marriage, kinship rules, clothing, and speech. Taboos may be prescriptive (what must be done) or proscriptive (what must not be done). Violations can lead to ritual impurity, social sanctions, or spiritual consequences, with enforcement often carried out by elders, priests, or designated community observers. Some societies distinguish between high taboos, associated with sacred or dangerous matters, and lower taboos, which are more everyday or social in nature.

Anthropology and modern usage: Anthropologists have studied taboos to understand social structure, belief systems, and how communities regulate behavior. While rooted in specific cultural contexts, the concept of prohibitions appears across many societies. In modern discourse, taboo also describes topics considered inappropriate or off-limits in conversation or media, such as certain topics relating to sex, death, or religion.