Standard Lemma guide

berdache

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • bər-dăsh′
  • Received-Pronunciation: /bəˈdæʃ/
  • General-American: /bɚˈdæʃ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æʃ

1

noun

Meaning 1

Among Native Americans, a person who identifies with any of a variety of gender identities which are not exclusively those of their biological sex; a transgender person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, ethnic, offensive, slur

Topics: anthropology, human-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From French bardache, from Italian bardassa, perhaps from Arabic بَرْدَج (bardaj, “slave”). Doublet of bardash.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: bardache — Native American who identifies with a gender identity not exclusively corresponding to their biological sex — see also two-spirit
  • Lakota: wíŋkte — Native American who identifies with a gender identity not exclusively corresponding to their biological sex — see also two-spirit
  • Portuguese: berdache — Native American who identifies with a gender identity not exclusively corresponding to their biological sex — see also two-spirit
  • Russian: берда́ш (berdáš) — Native American who identifies with a gender identity not exclusively corresponding to their biological sex — see also two-spirit
  • Russian: берда́че (berdáče) — Native American who identifies with a gender identity not exclusively corresponding to their biological sex — see also two-spirit