Definition
Prehistoric men who lived in caves; often used to describe people from very ancient times or humorously to refer to someone who seems primitive or uncivilized.
Etymology
Compound of 'cave' (from Old French 'cave,' Latin 'cava' meaning hollow) and 'men' (from Old English 'mann'). The term became popular in 19th-century anthropology to describe Paleolithic humans.
Kelly Says
Despite the stereotype, actual cave-dwelling Paleolithic humans had sophisticated art, music, and social structures—they weren't primitive at all! The real reason they sheltered in caves? Better protection from predators and weather, not lack of intelligence.
Translations
ARالعربية
رجال الكهوف
rijal al-kahuff
BNবাংলা
গর্তবাসী
gor-ta-ba-see
CACatalà
homes de cova
ho-me de ko-va
CSČeština
muži jeskynní
mu-ži yes-kin-ni
DADansk
hulemænd
hule-mand
DEDeutsch
Höhlenmenschen
hoh-lehn-men-shn
ELΕλληνικά
άνθρωποι της σπηλιάς
an-thro-poi ti-s pe-li-as
ESEspañol
cavernícolas
ka-vern-i-ko-las
FAفارسی
مردان غارنشین
mardan ghar-neshin
FISuomi
luolupukit
luol-u-puk-kit
FRFrançais
hommes de la caverne
oh-m-uh de la ka-vern
GUGU
ગોખાવાસી
go-kha-va-see
HAHA
mutumun gidan dutse
mu-tu-mun gi-dan du-tse
HEעברית
אנשים מה пещеה
a-shem me-ha-pe-sheh
HIहिन्दी
गुफावासी
gufa-wasi
HUMagyar
barlanglakók
bar-lang-la-kok
IDBahasa Indonesia
orang gua
o-rang gua
IGIG
ndị mmadụ nke ụlọ
ndi mmadụ nke ulo
ITItaliano
uomini di grotta
oo-o-mini di grot-ta
KKKK
алдыңғы адамдар
al-dyng-gy a-dam-dar
KMKM
ប្រជាជន នៃ ហាង
brach-ea-chon neay haang
KO한국어
동굴 사람들
dong-gul sa-ram-deul
MRMR
गुहावासी
gu-ha-va-see
MSBahasa Melayu
orang gua
o-rang gua
MYမြန်မာ
ကျောက်ဂူလူမျိုး
chaw-kyat-gu lu-myo
NLNederlands
holbewoner
hol-be-wo-ner
NONorsk
hulemenn
hule-men
PAPA
ਭਉੜੀਵਾਲੇ
bha-u-ree-va-le
PLPolski
mieszkańcy jaskiń
mish-ka-n-cy ja-ski-n
PTPortuguês
homens da caverna
oh-men-s da ka-ve-ra
RORomână
oameni din peșteră
o-a-me-ni din pe-ste-ra
RUРусский
мужчины из пещер
muzhchiny iz peshcher
SVSvenska
grottmän
grott-man
SWKiswahili
wanadam wa kisima
mwa-na-da-am wa ki-si-ma
TAதமிழ்
மலைக்கொட்டக மக்கள்
malai-kotta-ka mak-kal
TEతెలుగు
గుహవాసి
gu-ha-va-see
THไทย
คนยุคหิน
kon yuk hin
TLTL
taong-sa-kueba
ta-ong sa-kueba
TRTürkçe
mağara insanları
ma-ga-ra i-san-la-ri
UKУкраїнська
чоловіки-пещерники
cholo-vi-ki-peshch-ni-ki
VITiếng Việt
người trong hang
ngoi trong hang
YOYO
ẹni tí ó ní ìlú
e-ni ti o ni il-u
ZUZU
umuntu wase-ntshonalo
oo-mu-ntu wa-se-ntshona-lo
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The default masculine 'caveman' erases women's equal presence in prehistoric survival, hunting, and shelter-building. Anthropology has since documented women's critical roles in early human society.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'cave dwellers' or 'prehistoric people' to include all genders; if specifying, use 'cavewomen' or 'cave-dwelling men/women'.
Inclusive Alternatives
["cave dwellers","prehistoric people","early humans"]
Empowerment Note
Women were active hunters, tool-makers, and survival strategists in prehistoric societies; linguistic erasure via 'caveman' obscured their archaeological evidence for centuries.