Aryan
UK: ˈɛːrɪən | US: ˈɛriən
n. 1. (Historical) A member of the ancient people who spoke Indo-Iranian languages and migrated into South Asia and Europe.
n. 2. (Misused in pseudoscience) A term falsely equated with a supposed "master race" in racist ideologies.
adj. Relating to the Indo-Iranian languages or cultures.
The word "Aryan" originates from the Sanskrit arya, meaning "noble" or "honorable," used by ancient Indo-Iranian peoples to describe themselves. It entered English via 19th-century linguistics to classify Indo-European languages. Tragically, it was later distorted by Nazi propaganda to promote racist theories, diverging entirely from its original cultural-linguistic meaning.
The Rigveda, an ancient Indian text, was composed by Aryan tribes.
Scholars reject the misuse of "Aryan" to justify racial hierarchies.
Persian and Sanskrit are both Aryan languages.
The term "Aryan" has no biological or racial basis in modern science.
Historical migrations of Aryan-speaking groups shaped Eurasian cultures.