apartheid

noun ah-pahr-TAYD Rare

Origin: From Afrikaans apartheid (separateness), from Dutch apart + -heid (-ness).

Usage Note

Apartheid is a direct loanword used in Spanish with no spelling adaptation, retaining its Afrikaans form. It is typically treated as masculine (el apartheid). While historically tied to South Africa's racial segregation system, Spanish speakers also use it metaphorically for any severe systemic exclusion, for example apartheid social or apartheid educativo.

Examples

"El apartheid fue abolido en 1991."

Natural Translation

Apartheid was abolished in 1991.

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