What is tribe? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of tribe in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of tribe

tribenoun

Bộ lạc

/traɪb//traɪb/

Where does the word tribe come from?

The word "tribe" has its roots in the Old English word "trippa," which referred to a group of three persons. Over time, this word evolved to mean small communities or groups of people who shared a common ancestry, language, territory, and cultural traditions. In Old Norse, the term "thaowing" had a similar meaning, which was borrowed by the Old English language. The French word "trieu" also had a similar definition, and it was adopted by Middle English. The use of the word "tribe" to describe specific cultural, ethnic, or linguistic groups became widespread during the colonial era, as European powers sought to categorize and control indigenous populations. Today, the meaning and connotations of the word "tribe" are still a subject of debate, as it holds both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context in which it is used. While some may use the word to celebrate and elevate indigenous cultures, others may use it to reinforce colonialist or ethnocentric narratives.

Vocabulary summary tribe

typenoun

meaningtribe

meaningbunch, bunch, bunch

meaning(zoology) tribe

Example of vocabulary tribenamespace

meaning

a social group in a traditional society consisting of people with the same language, culture, religion, etc., living in a particular area and often having one leader known as a chief

  • They were a nomadic horse-riding tribe.
meaning

a group or class of people, especially of one profession

  • He had a sudden outburst against the whole tribe of actors.
meaning

a group of related animals or plants

  • a tribe of cats
meaning

a large family

  • One or two of the grandchildren will be there, but not the whole tribe.

Synonyms and related words for tribe


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