Definition
Lacking the refinements and courtesies considered normal in civilized society; crude, barbarous, or primitive in behavior or culture.
Etymology
From 'un-' (not) + 'civilized', which comes from Latin 'civilis' meaning 'relating to citizens'. The concept developed during the Enlightenment when European societies began defining themselves as 'civilized' in contrast to other cultures they deemed primitive.
Kelly Says
The term 'uncivilized' reveals how subjective and culturally biased our definitions of proper behavior can be. What one society considers civilized, another might view as artificial or restrictive, making this word a fascinating window into cultural assumptions and power dynamics.
Translations
CACatalà
incivilizat
in-si-vi-li-zat
CSČeština
necivilizvaný
neh-si-vi-li-z-van-ee
DADansk
uciviliseret
oo-si-vil-i-ser-et
DEDeutsch
uncivilized
un-si-vil-i-siert
ELΕλληνικά
άπολως πολιτισμένος
ah-po-los po-li-tis-men-os
ESEspañol
incivilizado
in-si-vil-i-zah-doh
FISuomi
siviliseerimätön
si-vi-li-seer-i-mee-ton
FRFrançais
décivilisé
deh-si-vee-le-zay
HEעברית
לא מתمدן
la ma-t-med-en
HUMagyar
uncivilizált
oon-si-vi-li-zalt
IDBahasa Indonesia
tidak beradab
tidak ber-a-dab
ITItaliano
incivilizato
in-si-vil-i-zah-toh
KKKK
көпшілік
kop-shi-lik
KMKM
មិនប្រព្រឹត្ត
min pra-preat
KO한국어
문명적이지 않은
mun-myeong-jeok-i-ji-aneun
MRMR
अशिक्षित
a-shik-shit
MSBahasa Melayu
tidak beradab
tidak ber-a-dab
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော်များ
kyun-tawr-ma-yar
NLNederlands
on beschaafd
on be-schaafd
NONorsk
usivilisert
oo-si-vil-i-sert
PLPolski
nieokrzeszony
njee-ok-rzes-ohn-ee
PTPortuguês
descivilizado
deh-si-vil-i-zah-doh
RORomână
necivilizat
neh-si-vi-li-zat
RUРусский
нецивилизованный
ne-si-vi-li-zo-van-nyy
SVSvenska
ociviliserad
oh-si-vil-i-ser-ad
SWKiswahili
sifa mbaya
si-fa m-ba-ya
TAதமிழ்
குறைவான
ku-rai-va-an
THไทย
ไม่เป็นระเบียบ
mai ben ra-beep
TRTürkçe
medeniyete uygun olmayan
meh-deh-ni-yeht-e oo-youn ol-mayan
UKУкраїнська
нецивілізований
neh-si-vi-li-zo-van-nyy
URاردو
غیر تعلیم یافتہ
ghair ta-aleem yaft-ah
VITiếng Việt
không văn minh
khong van minh
ZUZU
alungilelwe
a-lu-ngi-le-lwe
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Colonial and anthropological discourse weaponized 'civilized/uncivilized' to justify male dominance and exclude non-Western women from personhood. The term encoded racial and gender hierarchies simultaneously, treating indigenous and colonized women as doubly 'primitive.'
Inclusive Usage
Avoid entirely; describe specific practices or contexts instead (e.g., 'oral tradition,' 'decentralized governance') without moral ranking.
Inclusive Alternatives
["non-industrial","oral-tradition-based","decentralized"]