pariah (English)
Where does "pariah" come from?
The English word 'pariah' ultimately derives from the Tamil word 'paṟaiyar' or the Malayalam word 'paṟayaṟ', meaning a drummer[1]. These terms stem from words for a large drum used to announce royal notices, specifically 'paṟai' in Tamil and 'paṟa' in Malayalam[1]. Because the people who made a living playing these drums belonged to the lower strata of a caste based society, the term shifted to denote a despised and excluded person[1]. Alternatively, the word has been derived from the Sanskrit word 'para', meaning 'distant' or 'outsider'[1].
Open questions
- The derivation from Sanskrit 'para' is offered as an alternative possibility alongside the primary Dravidian etymology. [1]
Full etymology tree
- pariah (English), 'Synonym of outcast: A person despised and excluded by their family, community, or society, especially a member of the untouchable castes in Indian society.'
- derived பறையர் (paṟaiyar) (Tamil), 'the Paraiyar caste'
- derived பறையன் (paṟaiyaṉ) (Tamil), 'pariah, a man belonging to the Paraiyar caste'
- derived பறை (paṟai) (Tamil), 'to speak, say'
- derived பறையன் (paṟaiyaṉ) (Tamil), 'pariah, a man belonging to the Paraiyar caste'
- derived பறையர் (paṟaiyar) (Tamil), 'the Paraiyar caste'
Ancestors
- பறையர் (Tamil)
- पर (Sanskrit)
Descendants and derived words
- nonpariah (English)
- pariah arrack (English)
- pariah dog (English)
- pariahdom (English)
- pariahism (English)
- pariah kite (English)
- pariahlike (English)
- pariahship (English)
Sources
- pariah (English) - Wiktionary
- पर (Sanskrit) - Wiktionary
- பறையர் (paṟaiyar) (Tamil) - Wiktionary
- பறை (paṟai) (Tamil) - Wiktionary
- പറ (Malayalam) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris