Where does “kaffir” come from?

kaffir (English) comes from Dutch kaffer, from Spanish cafre, from Arabic كَافِر — infidel; denier, unbeliever; infidel; unbeliever.

kaffir (English): In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim; A member of...

Definitions

  1. In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim; A member of...

Ancestry of “kaffir”, step by step

kaffir traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch kaffer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchkafferA non-believer or an infidel from the Muslim...
2Spanishcafreuncouth, boorish
3Arabicكَافِرinfidel; denier, unbeliever; infidel; unbeliever

via Arabic كافر

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicكافرactive participle of كَفَرَ; farmer; disbeliever;...
2Arabicكَفَرَto cover, to hide; to disbelieve; to cover; to...

Words derived from “kaffir

Every word from Arabic كَافِرEvery word from Spanish cafreEvery word from Dutch kaffer