mongol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, historical, ethnic identifier; highly offensive in medical/pathologizing contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mongol” mean?
A member of a Central Asian ethnic group, traditionally associated with the Mongol Empire or modern Mongolia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of a Central Asian ethnic group, traditionally associated with the Mongol Empire or modern Mongolia.
Used historically in medical contexts to refer to a person with Down's syndrome (now considered offensive). Often used in plural form 'Mongols' to refer to the historical peoples of the Mongol Empire.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties recognize the capitalized proper noun for ethnicity. The offensive medical usage was historically more common in UK medical literature, but is now universally condemned.
Connotations
Strongly negative if used in the medical/ability sense. Neutral/descriptive if used accurately for ethnicity/history.
Frequency
Low-frequency word outside of historical or geographical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mongol” in a Sentence
the Mongols [VERB]of Mongol [NOUN]a Mongol [NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mongol” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Mongol invasions reshaped Eurasian history.
American English
- He studied Mongol art and culture for his thesis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear in contexts of Mongolian trade or mining.
Academic
Common in historical, anthropological, or genetic studies.
Everyday
Very rare; potentially known from history lessons about Genghis Khan.
Technical
Used in historical/archaeological terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mongol”
- Using a lowercase 'm' when referring to the ethnic group (should be capitalised).
- Using the term to refer to a person with Down's syndrome (profoundly offensive).
- Confusing 'Mongol' with 'Mongoloid' (an outdated and offensive racial classification).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the context. 'Mongol' (capitalised) is the standard term for a person from Mongolia or a member of the ethnic group. However, its historical use as a medical term for Down's syndrome is deeply offensive and obsolete. Always capitalise it when referring to people.
'Mongol' typically refers to the ethnic group or historical peoples (e.g., the Mongol Empire). 'Mongolian' is the modern nationality (a citizen of Mongolia) and is also used as an adjective for things related to the country (e.g., Mongolian cuisine, the Mongolian language). They are often used interchangeably in historical contexts.
In the 19th century, a physician (John Langdon Down) incorrectly thought facial features of people with Down's syndrome resembled those of the Mongol ethnic group, coining the offensive term 'mongolism'. This terminology has been completely abandoned in medicine and is considered a harmful stereotype.
The correct term is the 'Mongol Empire'. You can also refer to its people as 'the Mongols'. Using the capital 'M' is crucial for correctness and respect.
A member of a Central Asian ethnic group, traditionally associated with the Mongol Empire or modern Mongolia.
Mongol is usually formal, historical, ethnic identifier; highly offensive in medical/pathologizing contexts. in register.
Mongol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒŋɡ(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːŋɡəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the great KHAN of the Mongols; the 'gol' sounds like 'goal' – the Mongols had a goal to conquer.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often metaphorically used for something vast, unstoppable, and originating from the East (e.g., 'a Mongol horde of tourists').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'Mongol' is considered acceptable in modern English?