Kufr
/ˈkuːfr̩/noun
In Arabic, disbelief or unbelief; in Islamic theology, rejection of faith.
Did you know?Kufr comes from the Arabic root K-F-R, whose original sense is “to cover” or “to conceal,” which is why the same root also appears in words for a farmer, someone who covers seeds with soil.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Classical Arabic
Arabic
k-f-r
“to cover, conceal, or hide”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
kufr
“covering up; ingratitude; disbelief”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
kāfir
“one who covers up truth; unbeliever”
Modern English
English
kufr
“disbelief, especially in Islamic religious contexts”