NEGRITO Meaning and
Definition
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Negrito is a term that has been historically used to refer to a specific group of indigenous people in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Malaysia, and the Andaman Islands. The term is derived from the Spanish word "negro," meaning black, due to their dark or black skin complexion.
This ethnic group is known for their distinct physical characteristics, including short stature, dark skin, curly or frizzy hair, and sometimes epicanthic folds in their eyes. Historically, Negritos were believed to be the earliest inhabitants of these regions, with a supposed Negrito presence dating back thousands of years.
Negritos have traditionally lived as hunter-gatherers or in small-scale agricultural communities, often inhabiting remote or isolated areas such as the rainforests or mountainous regions. Their traditional way of life is deeply connected to nature, and they possess a wealth of knowledge about local ecosystems and plant life.
Today, the term "Negrito" is recognized as controversial and offensive by some individuals and organizations, as it has been used in the past to demean or discriminate against this ethnic group. Scholars and activists have advocated for alternative terms such as Aeta, Ati, or Agta to refer to specific subgroups of Negritos based on their respective tribal affiliations.
It is essential to approach this term with sensitivity and understand the historical context surrounding its usage, recognizing that the preferences and self-identifications of the individuals and communities should be respected.
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• An inhabitant of certain intertropical islands.
• Black: negrohead tobacco, tobacco softened with molasses and pressed into cakes, generally called cavendish: Negroland, the district of Africa occupied by the Negro race.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for NEGRITO
- negritoes
- negrittos
- negritos
- begrito
- megrito
- jegrito
- hegrito
- nwgrito
- nsgrito
- ndgrito
- nrgrito
- n4grito
- n3grito
- nefrito
- nevrito
- nebrito
- nehrito
- neyrito
- netrito
- negeito
Etymology of NEGRITO
The word "Negrito" is derived from the Spanish language, specifically from the noun "negro", which means "black" in English. "Negrito" is the diminutive form of "negro", and it is used to describe a group of people found in various parts of Southeast Asia and other regions such as the Andaman Islands, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The term was historically used to distinguish them based on their physical features, particularly their dark skin color.
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