Xenophilia
/ˌzɛnəˈfɪliə/noun
A strong attraction to foreign people, cultures, or things.
Did you know?In Ancient Greek, xénos could mean either “foreigner” or “guest,” revealing a culture where the outsider was also bound to rituals of hospitality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰil-os
“Possibly “dear” or “beloved”; the proposed ancestral source of Greek phílos, though the reconstruction is debated.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
xénos (ξένος)
“A stranger, foreigner, guest, or guest-friend.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phílos (φίλος)
“Beloved, dear, friendly; a friend or loved one.”
19th Century
English
xeno- + -philia
“A learned Greek-based formation combining “foreigner” with “love or fondness.””
Modern English
English
xenophilia
“Strong attraction to foreign people, cultures, or things.”
Explore more surprising origins