rifaʿiya: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, often derogatory
Quick answer
What does “rifaʿiya” mean?
People regarded as socially inferior, disreputable, or worthless.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
People regarded as socially inferior, disreputable, or worthless.
Often used disparagingly to refer to a group perceived as low-class, disorderly, or undesirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, but used in both varieties with the same meaning.
Connotations
Stronger historical class associations in UK English.
Frequency
Low frequency in formal contexts; appears in informal speech, journalism, and literary descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “rifaʿiya” in a Sentence
NP + be + riff-raffV + away/out + the riff-raffVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rifaʿiya” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The club installed a bouncer to keep out the riff-raff.
- He complained that the festival attracted all sorts of riff-raff.
American English
- The gated community was designed to exclude the riff-raff.
- She didn't want her daughter mixing with that riff-raff.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially in informal criticism of unprofessional clients or competitors.
Academic
Very rare; might appear in historical or sociological texts discussing class language.
Everyday
Informal, often humorous or dismissive reference to an unwanted group.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rifaʿiya”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rifaʿiya”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rifaʿiya”
- Spelling as 'riffraff' (also acceptable) or 'rif raff'; using in formal writing; overestimating its acceptability in polite conversation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, as it is disparaging towards lower social classes. Use with caution, especially in mixed company.
From Old French 'rif et raf', meaning 'one and all, every bit', which came to mean 'sweepings, refuse'.
It is usually a collective noun referring to a group, but can be used for an individual pejoratively (e.g., 'He's just riff-raff').
More neutral terms include 'crowd', 'general public', or 'attendees', depending on context.
People regarded as socially inferior, disreputable, or worthless.
Rifaʿiya is usually informal, often derogatory in register.
Rifaʿiya: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪf.raf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪf.raf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “riff-raff and ragamuffins”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RIFF-RAFF sounds like 'riff' (a repeated phrase in music) and 'raff' (like 'raffle' for random people) → think of a repetitive, annoying crowd you'd draw by raffle.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE TRASH (when considered worthless)
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'riff-raff' be MOST appropriate?