LingvoCore.com

khond

Low (archaic/ethnographic)
UK/kɒnd/US/kɑːnd/

Academic / Historical / Ethnographic

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A member of an Indigenous tribal people of eastern India (Odisha region).

A term for the ethnic group, their Dravidian language (Kondh), or anything pertaining to them culturally.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

An outdated colonial-era exonym; modern preferred endonyms are Kondh, Kandha, or Kui. Use primarily in historical contexts. May carry colonial baggage.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Virtually no difference as the word is not in general circulation. Slightly more likely to appear in British works due to colonial history in India.

Connotations

In both: scholarly, historical, potentially outdated.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to specialized texts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Khond tribeKhond peopleKhond language
medium
Khond rebellionKhond customsamong the Khond
weak
Khond villagesKhond territoryancient Khond

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[the] Khond of [region][adjective] KhondKhond + noun (tribe, people, language)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

Kui people

Neutral

KondhKandha

Weak

tribal groupindigenous community

Vocabulary

Antonyms

non-tribalurbanitesettler

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical, anthropological, or South Asian studies contexts. Often in quotes or as a dated term.

Everyday

Never used.

Technical

Specific to ethnography or colonial history.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

  • The Khond rituals were documented by British officers.
  • He studied Khond folklore.

American English

  • The Khond language belongs to the Dravidian family.
  • She wrote about Khond social structure.

Examples

By CEFR Level

B1
  • The Khond are a tribe from India.
B2
  • Early colonial reports often misunderstood Khond land-use practices.
  • The term 'Khond' is less common today than 'Kondh'.
C1
  • Anthropological debate continues over the pre-colonial political organization of the Khond communities.
  • The 19th-century Khond rebellions were a response to land encroachment.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'Kond' with a silent 'h' – a tribe known for their connection to the land (ground).

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable for this proper noun.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'конд' (abbreviation for 'кондиционер' – air conditioner).
  • No direct Russian equivalent; transliterate as 'кхонд' or use modern term 'конд'.

Common Mistakes

  • Misspelling as 'kond', 'khondh', or 'khand'.
  • Using it as a contemporary term without historical qualification.
  • Pronouncing the 'kh' as a fricative /x/; it's a simple /k/.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The people traditionally inhabited the hills of Odisha.
Multiple Choice

In which context is the word 'khond' most appropriately used today?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is not overtly offensive but is an outdated colonial exonym. The preferred contemporary terms are Kondh, Kandha, or Kui, which are endonyms.

Pronounce it like 'cond' or 'coned'. The 'kh' is not a fricative sound; it's simply /k/.

Yes, in historical or ethnographic contexts, e.g., 'Khond mythology', 'Khond territory'. It functions as a proper adjective.

They speak languages belonging to the Dravidian family, primarily Kui (or Kondh), Kuvi, and others.