Is the word "natives" to describe a people native to a country offensive?

[LolSurprise]

As the title says - I am worried I might have used the wrong word unintentionally due to limited vocabulary and caused offence. Do you think the word "natives" as in meaning "people native to that country" (not as in native Americans) is considered offensive? Thanks!

No, native literally means born in, or indigenous to a a particular place.

That's unnecessarily rude - OP has explained she has limited vocabulary.

I don't think it's a word I would use. To me, it has colonial connotations

But I don't think everyone would find it offensive. Probably depends where you're talking about & who you're talking to

It definitely depends on the context.

In some circumstances 'indigenous population' would be better.

Locals works, less formally.

'Natives' works if there's no history of colonial oppression.

So native brits is fine. Native French people.
Native Congolese, less so.

I totally agree with this

Also agree the first reply was rude. No need.

Depends on the country. If you are going to India, Nigeria, Brazil or Australia or any country with a significant colonial past, then yes. Offensive and patronising - if you are "native" white British, at least, but it sounds like you are not and that English isn't your first language? In which case you probably get a pass. :)

But it is something to be aware of, especially if you are white, because of the negative colonial connotations.

It’s usually first peoples or indigenous peoples.

Sooo.... if a white British person goes to, say, India on holiday and says "the natives were so welcoming and helpful!" there's nothing jarring about that at all? And an Indian person sitting at the same table wouldn't be remotely taken aback?

Depending on who you are and who the people are that you're describing, I think it can sound old-fashioned, and can also have racist connotations. (I'm white, and I wouldn't use the word 'natives' to describe indigenous people of colour for this reason.) 'Indigenous' is a good alternative for formal use, while 'locals' is good for casual use.

However, if this was said by someone whose first language wasn't English (you said limited vocabulary?) I would 100% cut them some slack on this one.

It really depends on the context you used it in.

Context is key and also who you're speaking to might have a preference. If you're feeling you didn't use it appropriately have a read around how to address people.

Agreed

Every single people on Earth colonised somewhere. In pre-historic times man walked out of Africa across the continental plates to colonise every part of habitable arable land with clean water and evolved further according to their environment. Every person on this planet is descended from someone who colonised somewhere at some point.
How can anyone be offended by what we all indigenously and historically are which is colonisers who all became native to somewhere.

I wouldn’t worry about causing offence if it was an accident. I think the word indigenous or First Nation (in Canada) is more widely used now.

Thanks for your replies, very helpful.

I used the word literally in the context of “people native to that country” - and not in relation to a former colonial country. It was clear in the context of when I spoke that I didn’t mean offence neither did I speak negatively about people, but on reflection I think I could have used a better word. I agree that locals would have been a better choice of word in this situation.

@Colourfingers2 some colonisers we're more brutal, and more recent, than others.

The gradual expansion of a population into new territory is quite different from the invasion and subjugation of another. Particularly when it's recent history!

It sounds as though there is no problem then, but it's always good to develop vocabulary!

I'd never criticise someone else's use of their second language. I might offer a more colloquial alternative if I had that kind of relationship with them, though!

I don't think it has a good ring to it for anyone. If you were comparing e.g. English people who'd moved to Spain with the people who were born there, I guess calling them "native Spaniards" would be... ok. But called them "natives" doesn't sound nice at all.

Those saying there's no problem with it, I wonder how you'd feel if you ever heard yourself referred to as one of the natives (in a serious rather than joking sense).

That context is absolutely fine and I don't see how anyone could be offended by it.

It's not a word I'd use as it has colonial connotations. It's probably ok in relation to say British people. But then still there's potential to imply people not born here aren't British etc. So I'd steer clear of it. Def not ok re indigenous people. But that's not how you used it!

I've heard it used wrt people from my part of the UK - it sounds like the person speaking thinks the people they're talking about are lesser than them, because that's the way it was used historically.

No call for that at all is there. Who rattled your cage Joey?????

OP it’s great you’re thinking this over. As others have said it all depends on the context

I think saying someone is native to so and so is fine (although there are probably better ways) but IMO I'd not say 'the natives' referring to a group.

Agreed with this! If you said it in an African country I'd be 😱