Definition
The former system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Now used more broadly to describe any system of institutionalized racial separation.
Etymology
From Afrikaans apartheid, literally meaning 'apartness' or 'separateness,' composed of apart (separate) and -heid (suffix meaning '-hood' or '-ness'). First used politically in the 1940s to describe the National Party's racial policies.
Kelly Says
Apartheid's linguistic roots in 'apartness' reveal how oppressive systems often hide behind euphemistic language - the word sounds almost neutral, even philosophical, masking one of history's most systematic forms of racial oppression.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አፓርቴይድ
ah-pah-rthayt
ARالعربية
فصل العنصري
fasl al-ʿunṣurī
BNবাংলা
আপার্তহাইড
ah-pah-rthayt
CSČeština
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
DADansk
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
DEDeutsch
Apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
ELΕλληνικά
απαρτχάιντ
ah-pah-rthayt
ESEspañol
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
FAفارسی
آپارتاید
ah-pah-rthayt
FISuomi
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
FRFrançais
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
HEעברית
אפרטהייד
ah-pah-rthayt
HIहिन्दी
अपरtheid
ah-pah-rthayt
HUMagyar
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
IDBahasa Indonesia
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
IGIG
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
ITItaliano
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
JA日本語
アパルトヘイト
ah-pah-ru-toh-hay-toh
KO한국어
아파르트헤이트
ah-pah-reu-teu-hay-teu
MSBahasa Melayu
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
MYမြန်မာ
အာပါသိဒ်
ah-pah-thit
NLNederlands
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
NONorsk
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
PLPolski
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
PTPortuguês
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
RORomână
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
RUРусский
апартеид
ah-pah-rthayt
SVSvenska
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
SWKiswahili
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
TAதமிழ்
அப்பர்தீட்
ah-pah-rthayt
TEతెలుగు
అపర్తీడ్
ah-pah-rthayt
THไทย
การแบ่งแยกทางเชื้อชาติ
gahn baeng yaek thaang cheh-oo-chaht
TLTL
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
TRTürkçe
apartheid
ah-pah-rthayt
UKУкраїнська
апартеїд
ah-pah-rthayt
URاردو
اپارٹﾊائیڈ
ah-pah-rthayt
VITiếng Việt
chế độ phân biệt chủng tộc
cheh doh phan bieht chuung tohc
YOYO
apártẹ́hẹ̀ídì
ah-pah-reh-eh-dee
ZUZU
i-apartheid
ee-ah-pah-rthayt
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
South African apartheid system had distinct gendered dimensions: Black women faced intersecting racial and gender oppression, including forced removal, labor exploitation, and sexual violence. State control of reproduction and family structure was central to apartheid's architecture.
Inclusive Usage
When discussing apartheid, center gendered impacts and women's resistance movements. Acknowledge how racial oppression weaponized gender.
Empowerment Note
Black South African women were foundational to anti-apartheid resistance. Honor figures like Cissie Gool, Winnie Mandela, and countless unnamed women who mobilized communities and endured state violence.