Berber

[ bur-ber ]

noun

1. a member of a group of North African tribes living in Barbary and the Sahara.
2. a subfamily of Afro-Asiatic, consisting of the languages of the Berbers, including Tuareg and Kabyle.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Berbers or their language.

Berber

/ ˈbɜːbə /

noun

1. a member of a Caucasoid Muslim people of N Africa
2. the language of this people, forming a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages. There are extensive differences between dialects

adjective

1. of or relating to this people or their language

Word History and Origins

Origin of Berber¹

1835–45; < Arabic barbar < Greek bárbaros; barbarous

Example Sentences

“I ask myself if Islam is accepted in France,” she said in her parents’ apartment, where a bright orange Berber rug woven by her Moroccan grandmother hangs next to Koranic verses in Arabic.

From Seattle Times

Berber van der Woude, a former Dutch diplomat, said she wanted to speak out on behalf of the active civil servants who had signed the letter anonymously because they feared retribution for dissenting.

From New York Times

"This detailed geology is the cherry on the icing on the cake," said Dr Berber.

From BBC

In Andalusia, there is an enormous Islamic, Berber and Moorish influence that has shaped Spanish culture, language and architecture.

From BBC

Some in the Amazigh, or Berber, villages complain of marginalisation and isolation.

From Reuters