World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesWhite Man's Burden
/ˌwaɪt mænz ˈbɜː.dən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The alleged duty of white colonizers to govern and impart their culture to non-white peoples, often advanced as a justification for European and American imperialism.
"The rhetoric of the nineteenth century frequently invoked the white man's burden to justify overseas expansion and colonial domination." - 2
A perceived paternalistic obligation or sense of responsibility felt by dominant groups to manage, aid, or uplift marginalized or developing societies.
"Modern critics argue that some foreign aid programs still carry traces of the white man's burden, characterized by paternalism rather than genuine partnership."
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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term originates from the 1899 poem of the same title by British author and poet Rudyard Kipling, written to urge American colonization and annexation of the Philippine Islands. Over time, the phrase evolved from a piece of imperialist propaganda into a critical socio-political concept used to describe the supposed moral obligation of white colonial powers to impose civilization on non-white populations.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "White Man's Burden" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
le fardeau de l'homme blanc
Transliteration: lu fardeau du l'om blãk
"Le fardeau de l'homme blanc a longtemps servi à justifier la colonisation."
die Bürde des weißen Mannes
Transliteration: dee byr-duh des vahy-sen mah-nes
"Die Bürde des weißen Mannes war ein beliebtes Motiv des Imperialismus."
il fardeo dell'uomo bianco
Transliteration: il far-de-o del-lu-o-mo byan-ko
"Il concetto del fardeo dell'uomo bianco giustificava l'espansione coloniale."
la carga del hombre blanco
Transliteration: la kar-ga del om-bre blan-ko
"La carga del hombre blanco fue una ideología clave durante la época colonial."
o fardo do homem branco
Transliteration: u far-du du o-mey brang-ku
"O fardo do homem branco era frequentemente citado pelos defensores do império."
श्वेत व्यक्ति का भार
Transliteration: shvet vyakti ka bhaar
"श्वेत व्यक्ति के भार की अवधारणा का उपयोग उपनिवेशवाद को सही ठहराने के लिए किया गया था।"
白人的负担
Transliteration: bái rén de fù dān
"白人的负担这一概念曾被用作殖民主义的借口。"
백인의 짐
Transliteration: baek-in-ui jim
"백인의 짐이라는 개념은 제국주의를 합리화하는 데 사용되었습니다."
白人の重荷
Transliteration: hakujin no omoni
"白人の重荷という概念は植民地支配を正当化するために使われた。"
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