whites
白人
解説 Definition
whites は white（白人）の複数形で、白人の人々を指します。人種を表す語なので、統計や説明など中立的な文脈で注意して使われます。
A plural noun referring collectively to white people, chiefly in demographic, statistical, historical, or comparative discussions. Because it labels people primarily by race and may sound impersonal, more explicit expressions such as “white people” or “White respondents” are often preferable.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
white を人を指す名詞として使った場合の複数形で、語末に -s を付け、発音は /waɪts/。統計や歴史資料で「whites and other groups」のように集団分類として現れる。ただし人種を一括りにする響きがあるため、通常は white people や White respondents など、文脈に合う具体的で人を中心にした表現を選ぶ。
“Whites” is the regular plural of the noun use of “white,” with the ending pronounced /s/. In reports, surveys, or historical descriptions, it may appear beside labels for other demographic groups. Remember, however, that this collective noun can reduce people to a racial category and may sound dated or impersonal. In many contexts, “white people,” “White residents,” or “White respondents” is clearer and more respectful. Capitalization practices vary by editorial style, so follow the relevant guide. Keep this human-reference sense separate from “the whites,” which can also mean white clothes, white parts, or the whites of eggs.
例文
The survey included whites, Asians, and other groups.
その調査には白人、アジア系、その他の集団が含まれていました。
In the report, whites are listed as one demographic group.
その報告書では、白人が人口統計上の一集団として記載されています。
The museum display describes the lives of whites and other residents in the town.
博物館の展示は、その町の白人やその他の住民の生活を説明しています。
whites の類義語・関連語
whites の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 hwīt（明るい、輝く）から。印欧祖語 *ḱweytos（明るい）に遡り、「光り輝くもの」が原義。関連語: wheat（小麦＝白い穀物）、Whitsunday。肌の色の明るさから人種を指す用法が生まれた。
“Whites” is the regular plural of “white.” “White” comes from Old English “hwīt,” meaning bright, shining, or white, and is inherited from an ancient Germanic word. The term first denoted color and brightness. Its use as a racial label developed much later through social and historical systems of classifying people by perceived skin color. Because those classifications are cultural rather than precise biological categories, present-day usage often favors fuller expressions that identify people without treating the label as their sole characteristic.
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