tabu
təˈbuː
Definition Synonyms

Definition of tabu - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

cultureRarecultural or social prohibitionRare
  • Discussing politics was considered a tabu at dinner.
ban prohibition taboo

Adjective

cultural beliefRareprohibited due to cultural or religious beliefsRare
  • Eating pork is tabu in some religions.
forbidden prohibited
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Origin of tabu

Polynesian, tabu (sacred, forbidden)

Examples of tabu in a sentence

  • In some societies, eating pork is a tabu.
  • Wearing shoes indoors is tabu in their culture.
  • In some tribes, discussing the dead is tabu.

View all translations of tabu

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:tabou, prohibé, ...
  2. German:Tabu, tabu, ...
  3. Italian:tabù, proibito, ...
  4. Spanish:tabú, prohibido, ...
  5. Portuguese:tabu, proibido, ...
  6. Chinese:禁忌, 禁忌的, ...
  7. Japanese:タブー, 禁忌の, ...
  8. Arabic:تَابُو, محرّم, ...
  9. Hebrew:טָאבּוּ, טַבּוּ, ...
  10. Russian:табу, запретный, ...
  11. Ukrainian:табу, заборонений, ...
  12. Hindi:वर्जित, निषिद्ध, ...
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