kaffir

/ˈkæfə/

//ˈkæfə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"kaffir" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“kaffir” is an uncommon English word, ranked #66,012 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#66,012
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.

Key facts for kaffir
PropertyValue
Headwordkaffir
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkæfə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#66,012
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kaffir” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). kaffir lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for kaffir is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkæfə/. Corpus data places it at rank #66,012 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for kaffir in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir. The correct English form is kaffir, spelled K-A-F-F-I-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
  2. 2
    A member of the Nguni people of southern Africa, especially a Xhosa.
  3. 3
    A black person.
  4. 4
    A language spoken by the Nguni peoples of southern Africa, especially Xhosa.
  5. 5
    South African mining shares
  6. 6
    Ellipsis of kaffir corn.

Etymology

Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir.

This word in other languages

cafre(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "kaffir"?
"kaffir" is spelled K-A-F-F-I-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkæfə/.
What does "kaffir" mean?
As a noun, "kaffir" means: In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
How do you pronounce "kaffir"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kaffir" is /ˈkæfə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "kaffir"?
Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “kaffir”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is K-A-F-F-I-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkæfə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list