Cyprus-Forum.com

[SKI-preo]

My understanding is that yunan roughly translates to Ionian from Ionia in Asia Minor in Ancient times. This is used to refer to the inhabitants of Yunanistan (Continental Greece) .

Turks refer to us as Rum and Gavur not Yunan. Are these terms derogatory?

I understand Rum to mean "Roman" but when used to refer to us it is often used with malice.

[umit07]

"Yunan" is used to describe a Greek from Greece.

"Rum" as you mentioned was originally used to describe a citizen of Byzantium, as they formally called themselves Roman. A Greek living is Asia Minor would still be called a "Rum" and not "Yunanli", same for the GC's of Cyprus. TC's refer to GC's as being "Kibrisli Rum", as for "Rum" being used in a malicious manner, it's as derogatory as the word "Turk" used by a Greek i.e; its as derogatory as the foul mind that would find it so.

"Gavur" is a word derived from Arabic to describe non-muslims, although initially the word was not used with malice, people started to use it in a derogatory way. In 1856 the usage of the word "Gavur" was officially banned within the, in an attempt to restore unity within the crippling empire.

[vaughanwilliams]

"Yunan" is used to describe a Greek from Greece.

"Rum" as you mentioned was originally used to describe a citizen of Byzantium, as they formally called themselves Roman. A Greek living is Asia Minor would still be called a "Rum" and not "Yunanli", same for the GC's of Cyprus. TC's refer to GC's as being "Kibrisli Rum", as for "Rum" being used in a malicious manner, it's as derogatory as the word "Turk" used by a Greek i.e; its as derogatory as the foul mind that would find it so.

"Gavur" is a word derived from Arabic to describe non-muslims, although initially the word was not used with malice, people started to use it in a derogatory way. In 1856 the usage of the word "Gavur" was officially banned within the, in an attempt to restore unity within the crippling empire.

I believe the word "Gavur" translates literally as "infidel" or "non-believer".

[Nikitas]

Post 9/11 Gavur would tend to become a term of distinction.

Rum is an attempt to deny the Greeks their Greekness. And one must ask if it is better or worse to be called a Roman!

It is not the only attempt, all kinds of assholes write things like "the problem with Greeks is that they are not Greeks at all" (Paul Theroux in a travel book of his) etc. But of course we know we are not Greeks that is why we call ourselves Hellenes. Except for GR of course who classifies himself as a Choirokitian.

[Omer Seyhan]

My understanding is that yunan roughly translates to Ionian from Ionia in Asia Minor in Ancient times. This is used to refer to the inhabitants of Yunanistan (Continental Greece) .

Turks refer to us as Rum and Gavur not Yunan. Are these terms derogatory?

I understand Rum to mean "Roman" but when used to refer to us it is often used with malice.

Yunan = Greece the country
Rum = Greek Orthodox Christian (as opposed to other Orthodox Churches)
Gavur = Infidel

[Omer Seyhan]

"Yunan" is used to describe a Greek from Greece.

"Rum" as you mentioned was originally used to describe a citizen of Byzantium, as they formally called themselves Roman. A Greek living is Asia Minor would still be called a "Rum" and not "Yunanli", same for the GC's of Cyprus. TC's refer to GC's as being "Kibrisli Rum", as for "Rum" being used in a malicious manner, it's as derogatory as the word "Turk" used by a Greek i.e; its as derogatory as the foul mind that would find it so.

"Gavur" is a word derived from Arabic to describe non-muslims, although initially the word was not used with malice, people started to use it in a derogatory way. In 1856 the usage of the word "Gavur" was officially banned within the, in an attempt to restore unity within the crippling empire.

1. Rum does refer historically to Byzantium (the Eastern "Rome") but it goes beyond that. What was the main difference between Byzantium and Rome? And Byzantium and say...Christians elsewhere like Armenia or Syria?
Byzantium after the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon 451 and the Great schism represented Orthodoxy, as opposed to Rome (Catholic), Church of the East (Monophysite). Later with the growth of independent orthodox churches in Serbia and Bulgaria (9th century), Russia (14th century), Byzanntium became associated with "Greek Orthodoxy" as the language of liturgy was Greek.

2. Gavur is does not mean 'Gayri-Muslum' or 'Dimmi' (non-Muslim). Gavur means "infidel".