Kāfir
/ˈkɑː.fɪər/noun
A term from Arabic traditionally referring to a nonbeliever or someone who rejects Islam, though its use can be offensive depending on context.
Did you know?In the Qur’an, kāfir belongs to the Arabic root K-F-R, whose older meanings include covering, concealing, and being ungrateful—not simply “disbelieving.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*k-p-r
“To cover, conceal, or wipe over”
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
k-f-r
“A root associated with covering, concealing, denying, or being ungrateful”
7th Century
Classical Arabic
kāfir
“One who disbelieves, rejects faith, or conceals the truth”
8th–10th Century
Medieval Arabic
kāfir
“A theological and legal designation for a non-Muslim or religious unbeliever”
16th Century
English
caffre/kaffir
“Historical English forms borrowed through Arabic and other languages, often used as ethnic or religious labels”
Modern English
English
kāfir/kafir
“A transliterated Arabic term for a nonbeliever, with usage varying from theological to derogatory”