How Do You Spell AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

Pronunciation: [ˈafɹɪkənɐmˈɛɹɪkən] (IPA)

The spelling of the term "African-American" represents a blend of linguistic heritage from both sides of the Atlantic. The word African itself stems from Latin and is pronounced as /ˈæfrɪkən/ while the word American derives from Old World French and is pronounced as /əˈmɛrɪkən/. Together, the term is phonetically transcribed as /ˌæf.rɪ.kən.əˈmɛr.ə.kən/. This spelling represents the identity of people of African descent living in the United States, acknowledging their African roots while recognizing their place as American citizens.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN Meaning and Definition

  1. African-American is a term used to refer to individuals residing in the United States who have ancestry from Sub-Saharan Africa. The term typically describes people of African descent who have roots in the African diaspora and have a historical legacy linked to the African slave trade in America.

    Originally, the term "African-American" emerged during the civil rights movement in the 1960s, replacing the previously used term "Negro." It was embraced as a way to foster a sense of pride, unity, and cultural identity among individuals with African heritage in the United States.

    The African-American community encompasses a diverse range of cultural, ethnic, and national backgrounds due to the historical dispersion and migration of African populations. They have made invaluable contributions to American society in fields such as literature, arts, music, sports, politics, and activism.

    The term African-American is commonly used to describe people who identify themselves as racially black and who embrace African cultural roots. However, it is essential to note that not all black people in America identify as African-American. Some individuals may identify with the specific countries or regions from which their ancestors originated (e.g., Nigerian-American, Jamaican-American). This acknowledgment respects the diversity within the black community and highlights the various cultural nuances that exist among individuals of African descent in the United States.

Common Misspellings for AFRICAN-AMERICAN

  • zfrican-american
  • sfrican-american
  • wfrican-american
  • qfrican-american
  • adrican-american
  • acrican-american
  • avrican-american
  • agrican-american
  • atrican-american
  • arrican-american
  • afeican-american
  • afdican-american
  • affican-american
  • aftican-american
  • af5ican-american
  • af4ican-american
  • afrucan-american
  • afrjcan-american
  • afrkcan-american

Etymology of AFRICAN-AMERICAN

The term "African-American" emerged in the late 20th century as a way to describe and identify Black Americans with African ancestry. The etymology of the word can be broken down as follows:

1. African: The term "African" refers to the continent of Africa, which is believed to be the birthplace of humanity. It is derived from the Latin word "Africus", which pertained to the region known as Africa.

2. American: The term "American" refers to the United States of America, a country in North America. It is derived from the name of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who was one of the first to suggest that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were part of a new continent, separate from Asia.

Combining these two terms, "African-American" was coined to describe individuals of African descent living in the United States.

Similar spelling word for AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Plural form of AFRICAN-AMERICAN is AFRICAN AMERICANS