Definition
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country because of war, violence, or persecution, and who is seeking safety in another place.
Etymology
From French *réfugié* meaning ‘one who has taken refuge’, from *refuge* (shelter, protection), from Latin *refugium* (a place to flee back to), from *refugere* (to flee back).
Kelly Says
A refugee isn’t just a traveler; they’re someone who had to run toward safety because staying meant danger. The word itself carries the idea of ‘seeking shelter’—reminding us that behind the politics are people looking for a safe place to stand.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
vlugteling
VLÜG-te-ling
BGБългарски
бежанец
be-ZHA-nets
BNবাংলা
শরণার্থী
sho-ro-naar-thi
CACatalà
refugiat
re-fu-HYAT
CSČeština
uprchlík
up-RKH-leek
DADansk
flygtning
FLÜGT-ning
DEDeutsch
Flüchtling
FLÜKHT-ling
ELΕλληνικά
πρόσφυγας
PROS-fi-gas
ESEspañol
refugiado
re-fu-HYA-do
ETEesti
põgenik
PÖ-ge-nik
EUEuskara
errefuxiatu
e-rre-fu-shya-TU
FAفارسی
پناهنده
pa-naa-han-de
FISuomi
pakolainen
pa-ko-LAI-nen
FRFrançais
réfugié
re-fü-ZHYE
GLGalego
refuxiado
re-fu-SHYA-do
HIहिन्दी
शरणार्थी
sha-ra-naar-thi
HRHrvatski
izbjeglica
iz-BYE-gli-tsa
HUMagyar
menekült
ME-ne-kült
IDBahasa Indonesia
pengungsi
pe-ngung-si
ITItaliano
rifugiato
ri-fu-HYA-to
LTLietuvių
pabėgėlis
pa-be-GE-lis
LVLatviešu
bēglis
BE-glis
MNМонгол
дүрвэгсэд
dürvegsed
MSBahasa Melayu
pelarian
pe-la-ri-an
MYမြန်မာ
ဒုက္ခသည်
dok-kha-san
NLNederlands
vluchteling
VLUKH-te-ling
NONorsk
flyktning
FLÜKT-ning
PLPolski
uchodźca
u-KHODZH-tsa
PTPortuguês
refugiado
re-fu-HYA-do
RORomână
refugiat
re-fu-HYAT
RUРусский
беженец
be-ZHE-nets
SKSlovenčina
utečenec
u-te-CHE-nets
SLSlovenščina
begunec
be-GU-nets
SRСрпски
избеглица
iz-BE-gli-tsa
SVSvenska
flykting
FLÜKT-ning
SWKiswahili
mkimbizi
mki-MBI-zi
TEతెలుగు
అశ్రయార్థి
a-shra-yaar-thi
THไทย
ผู้ลี้ภัย
phoo lee-pai
TRTürkçe
mülteci
mül-te-JI
UKУкраїнська
біженець
bi-ZHE-nets
VITiếng Việt
người tị nạn
nguoi ti nan
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
"Refugee" is legally and politically charged, and women and gender-diverse refugees have often faced gender-based violence, trafficking, and exclusion both in flight and in camps. Their specific experiences were historically under-documented compared to those of men.
Inclusive Usage
Use the term according to legal and self-identification standards, and avoid stereotypes that feminize refugees as passive victims or masculinize them as threats. Be attentive to intersecting gender-based risks.
Inclusive Alternatives
["displaced person","asylum seeker (where legally accurate)"]
Empowerment Note
When discussing refugee movements, include the leadership and organizing work of women and gender-diverse refugees, not only their victimization.