negro
UK[ˈniːɡrəʊ]US[ˈniːɡroʊ]
n
A term for a person of Black African ancestry or descent.
Etymology
The word 'negro' entered English in the 16th century from Spanish and Portuguese, where it functioned as a descriptive adjective meaning "black". These Romance languages inherited it directly from the Latin adjective 'niger' (stem 'nigr-'), which also meant "black" or "dark". For centuries, 'Negro' was used in English as a standard, neutral term for people of Black African heritage. However, through the mid-20th century, the term acquired strong negative connotations associated with racial prejudice and subjugation, leading to its decline in acceptable usage. It was largely superseded by "Black" and later "African American," and is now considered dated and offensive in most contexts, a stark evolution from its original, purely descriptive color meaning in Latin.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Spanish and Portuguese, derived from the Latin adjective 'niger' meaning "black".
Examples
The term "negro" was once common in official documents and census classifications.
Many historical texts and spirituals, such as "Negro Spirituals," use the word in their titles.
The use of the word is now widely regarded as offensive and should be avoided.