afro-caribbean

afro-caribbean — noun

IPA/ˌæfrəʊ kærɪˈbiːən/
IPA/ˌæfrəʊ kærɪˈbiːən/

1. a person from the Caribbean, or from a Caribbean family, who has African ancestr

1.nounC1
Definition

a person from the Caribbean, or from a Caribbean family, who has African ancestry.

Example

Keisha is Afro-Caribbean and grew up in Barbados before moving to London.

be Afro-Caribbean for ethnic identity

The museum interviewed Afro-Caribbeans from Leeds for its migration project.

plural noun: Afro-Caribbeans from [place]

Common collocations
  • young Afro-Caribbean
  • Afro-Caribbeans in Britain
  • Afro-Caribbean family
  • Afro-Caribbean community member
Synonyms
  • Black Caribbean

    very close in meaning, but it puts racial identity more directly in the foreground

  • Caribbean

    broader — refers to the region's people generally, not specifically to African ancestry

  • West Indian

    older and broader term, still used in some places but not always preferred

Grammar Patterns

an Afro-Caribbean from [place]

Afro-Caribbeans in [country/city]

Usage Note

Often used for a broad ethnic identity rather than nationality. When the country matters, speakers may choose a more exact label such as Jamaican, Barbadian, or Trinidadian.

Common Mistakes

All Caribbean people are Afro-Caribbean.
Some Caribbean people are Afro-Caribbean, and others have different backgrounds.
the Caribbean includes people of many ethnic backgrounds.

afro-caribbean — adjective

IPA/ˌæf.rəʊ.kær.ɪˈbiː.ən/
IPA/ˌæf.roʊ.ker.ɪˈbiː.ən/

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Afro-Caribbean names people or communities with Caribbean roots and African ancestry. Caribbean is broader: it can refer to anyone from the region, so it should not be treated as the same label. Black Caribbean is often very close in meaning, but it puts race more directly in the foreground and may be preferred in some social or political contexts. West Indian is older and broader again; many people still use it, especially in Britain, but others prefer more specific or more current labels. When accuracy matters, nationality words such as Jamaican, Barbadian, or Trinidadian may be better than any broad regional label. A speaker might say 'She is Afro-Caribbean' when discussing background, but 'She is Jamaican' when country is the main point.

Afro-Caribbean ↗Caribbean ↗Black CaribbeanWest Indian

Etymology

English

A modern English compound built from Afro-, meaning 'African' or 'of African ancestry', and Caribbean. It is used for people and things connected both to the Caribbean and to African ancestry, especially in discussions of identity, community, and culture.