Ghetto

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Ghetto

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

GET-oh  /ˈɡɛtəʊ/

Definition

As a noun: a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups; historically, a part of a city to which Jews were restricted; an isolated or segregated group or area. As a verb (informal): to segregate or isolate in a ghetto.

Plain meaning

A ghetto is an area where a minority group lives, often through forced segregation or economic isolation. Historically it named the Jewish quarters of European cities.

Register

Historically and politically charged. The word carries the weight of centuries of enforced segregation, Holocaust history, and contemporary racial and economic inequality. Informal uses — particularly as an adjective meaning cheap or low-quality — are widely considered offensive. Handle with full awareness of its history.