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Where does the word "pariah" come from? It comes from Tamil paraiyar, and was adopted directly into English (1600s-1700s).
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Where does the word "pariah" come from? It comes from Tamil paraiyar, and was adopted directly into English (1600s-1700s).
Pariah’s story begins in Tamil: paraiyar meant “a drummer caste.” A caste of drummers, later socially marginalized. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as pariah. From Tamil 'paraiyar', drummers, a caste who beat the 'parai' drum at festivals. Today, pariah means a person who is rejected or despised by society.
- Stage 1 · Tamil · medieval paraiyar "a drummer caste", a caste of drummers, later socially marginalized.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s-1700s pariah "a social outcast", from Tamil 'paraiyar', drummers, a caste who beat the 'parai' drum at festivals.