diaspora
dy-AS-per-uh
/daɪˈæspərə/
The dispersion or spread of any people from their original homeland.
Refers to the collective group of people living outside their homeland, often maintaining strong cultural ties to it.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'dia' (across) and 'speirein' (to scatter). It was originally used to describe the scattering of seeds across a field.
Word relationships
- dispersion: A more general term for spreading out, while diaspora is specifically about people and homelands.
Commonly confused with
- migration: Migration is the act of moving; diaspora is the resulting community of scattered people.
Collocations
- global diaspora
- diaspora community
- African diaspora
Example sentences
- "The Irish diaspora has had a profound influence on the music and literature of the United States." A cultural analysis.
- "The Jewish diaspora has a long and complex history spanning thousands of years." A historical discussion.
Memory hook
A diaspora is like 'seeds' (speirein) 'dispersed' (dia) across the world. Scattered seeds.
When not to use
Do not use for a single individual moving; it refers to a large-scale movement or the resulting community.
Fun facts
- The term was originally used specifically for the Jewish people but is now applied to any ethnic or religious group living outside their homeland.
Related words
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