# aryans

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aryans
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

people belonging to ancient groups that lived in parts of India, Iran and Europe and spoke related early languages. The Nazis later wrongly used the word to mean a superior white race.

For teachers: members of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples who spoke early Indo-European languages, associated with the cultures of ancient India and Iran. Twentieth-century Nazi ideology appropriated the term to describe a supposed superior white race, a use now regarded as historically false and offensive in that sense.

## Examples

- Historians study how the ancient Aryans lived and moved.
- In the history class, students learn that the Aryans spoke early languages that later developed into Sanskrit and Persian.
- Scholars trace linguistic links between ancient texts in India and Iran to understand how the Aryans migrated, while rejecting the false racial meaning imposed on the term in the twentieth century.

## Usage notes

- Usually capitalised as 'Aryans'; the Nazi racial sense is historically false and offensive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.