English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun Uncommon

Aryan

EH-uh-ree-uhn
Quiz me More like this

Aryan (noun) means In linguistics, a now largely retired term for the Indo-Iranian branch of languages, or more loosely the wider Indo-European language family. Example: “Older textbooks used "Aryan" to describe the language family that includes Sanskrit and Persian.”

noun
1
In linguistics, a now largely retired term for the Indo-Iranian branch of languages, or more loosely the wider Indo-European language family.
"Older textbooks used "Aryan" to describe the language family that includes Sanskrit and Persian."
2
A discredited 19th- and 20th-century racial category once used to claim a "Nordic" or "Caucasian" master race; the term is strongly associated with Nazi ideology.
"Nazi propaganda falsely presented "Aryan" as a race superior to all others."

How to use Aryan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA word with two very different lives: a legitimate old linguistics term for Indo-Iranian/Indo-European languages, and a term twisted into Nazi race pseudoscience.

Common mistake

Modern linguists avoid "Aryan" in favor of "Indo-Iranian" or "Indo-European" precisely because of its toxic racial baggage.

When to use it

Highly sensitive; in everyday use it is now almost always linked to racist ideology rather than linguistics.

Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Aryan.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
Aryans
Comparative
more Aryan
Superlative
most Aryan
Test yourself on “Aryan” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Older textbooks used "_____" to describe the language family that includes Sanskrit and Persian.

Etymology

From Sanskrit ā́rya ("noble"). Borrowed into English in the 1800s as a linguistic term, then hijacked in the 19th–20th centuries by race theorists — most infamously the Nazis — to invent a supposed racial hierarchy that has no basis in the word's actual history.

Origin: Sanskrit · First attested 1800

Class of 1800 Aryan joined the language around 1800.
alcohol Australia availability bah bandwagon
See the full Class of 1800 →

Synonyms

View more →
Indo-European

Rhymes for Aryan

yan Ryan Mayan Bryan Libyan Kenyan banyan Bunyan Vyvyan Kalyan Narayan Saroyan
See all rhymes for Aryan →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Aryan” mean?
The word “Aryan” means in linguistics, a now largely retired term for the Indo-Iranian branch of languages, or more loosely the wider Indo-European language family. In plain terms, a word with two very different lives: a legitimate old linguistics term for Indo-Iranian/Indo-European languages, and a term twisted into Nazi race pseudoscience.
How do you pronounce “Aryan”?
“Aryan” is pronounced EH-uh-ree-uhn (/ˈɛəɹi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Aryan” in a sentence?
Here is “Aryan” used in a sentence: “Older textbooks used "Aryan" to describe the language family that includes Sanskrit and Persian.”
What part of speech is “Aryan”?
“Aryan” is a noun.
Where does the word “Aryan” come from?
The word “Aryan” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Sanskrit.
Is “Aryan” a common word?
“Aryan” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Aryan” have?
“Aryan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in linguistics, a now largely retired term for the Indo-Iranian branch of languages, or more loosely the wider Indo-European language family.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Aryan:

Words with Sanskrit origins