Definition
Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, including their cultures, societies, languages, and physical development, past and present. Anthropologists try to understand what it means to be human across different times and places.
Etymology
From Greek 'anthrōpos' meaning 'human' and '-logia' meaning 'study of'. It became a formal academic field in the 19th century.
Kelly Says
The same 'anthro-' root shows up in 'anthropology', 'anthropology', and 'anthropomorphic' (human-shaped). Anthropology flips the camera so that humans become the object of study, the way we usually study animals or stars.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
የሰው ልጅ ጥናት
ye-sew lij ti-naat
ARالعربية
علم الإنسان
ilm al-in-saan
BNবাংলা
নৃতত্ত্ব
nri-tot-to
CSČeština
antropologie
an-tro-po-lo-gi-e
DADansk
antropologi
an-tro-po-lo-GEE
DEDeutsch
Anthropologie
an-tro-po-lo-GEE
ELΕλληνικά
ανθρωπολογία
an-thro-po-lo-YEE-a
ESEspañol
antropología
an-tro-po-lo-HEE-a
FAفارسی
انسانشناسی
en-saan-she-naa-see
FISuomi
antropologia
AN-tro-po-lo-gi-a
FRFrançais
anthropologie
ahn-tro-po-lo-ZHEE
GUGU
માનવશાસ્ત્ર
maa-nav-shaas-tra
HAHA
ilimin dan adam
i-li-min dan a-dam
HEעברית
אנתרופולוגיה
an-tro-po-lo-gi-ya
HIहिन्दी
मानवविज्ञान
ma-nav-vig-yaan
HUMagyar
antropológia
AN-tro-po-lo-gi-a
IDBahasa Indonesia
antropologi
an-tro-po-lo-gi
IGIG
ọmụmụ mmadụ
o-mu-mu m-ma-du
ITItaliano
antropologia
an-tro-po-lo-JEE-a
KKKK
антропология
an-tro-po-lo-gi-ya
KMKM
មនុស្សវិទ្យា
mo-nus-sa-vit-tyaa
MRMR
मानवशास्त्र
maa-nav-shaas-tra
MSBahasa Melayu
antropologi
an-tro-po-lo-gi
MYမြန်မာ
လူ့ပညာ
lu pyin-nyaa
NLNederlands
antropologie
an-tro-po-lo-GEE
NONorsk
antropologi
an-tro-po-lo-GEE
PAPA
ਮਾਨਵ ਵਿਗਿਆਨ
maa-nav vi-gi-aan
PLPolski
antropologia
an-tro-po-LO-gi-a
PTPortuguês
antropologia
an-tro-po-lo-JEE-a
RORomână
antropologie
an-tro-po-lo-GI-e
RUРусский
антропология
an-tro-po-LO-gi-ya
SVSvenska
antropologi
an-tro-po-lo-GEE
SWKiswahili
anthropolojia
an-thro-po-lo-ji-a
TAதமிழ்
மானுடவியல்
maa-nu-da-vi-yal
TEతెలుగు
మానవశాస్త్రం
maa-na-va-shaas-tram
THไทย
มานุษยวิทยา
maa-nut-sa-ya-wit-ta-yaa
TLTL
antropolohiya
an-tro-po-lo-hi-ya
TRTürkçe
antropoloji
an-tro-po-lo-ji
UKУкраїнська
антропологія
an-tro-po-lo-HI-ya
URاردو
بشریات
bash-ri-yaat
VITiếng Việt
nhân chủng học
nyan chung hok
ZUZU
isifundo sabantu
i-si-fun-do sa-ban-tu
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Early anthropology often reflected male, colonial perspectives, portraying women mainly in domestic roles and overlooking their political and economic influence. Feminist and gender anthropology later challenged these biases and documented diverse gender systems.
Inclusive Usage
When using “anthropology,” be aware of the field’s history and highlight work that includes women and gender-diverse people as agents, not just subjects.
Inclusive Alternatives
["study of humans","cultural and social study of humans"]
Empowerment Note
Women anthropologists have been central in reshaping the discipline, exposing gender bias, and documenting women’s and queer lives across cultures.