Illegals Meaning in English
word · lemma: illegal
ˌɪˈɫiɡəɫz
ih-LEE-guhlz
ɪlˈiːɡəlz
il-EE-guhlz
Definition
A term, often considered offensive, used to refer to people who are living or working in a country without legal permission.
Usage & Nuances
Considered offensive and dehumanizing; use 'undocumented immigrants' or 'people without legal status' instead. Mostly found in informal, political, or sensationalist contexts. Avoid using in respectful conversation.
Spanish: ilegalesPortuguese (BR): ilegaisPortuguese (PT): ilegaisChinese (Simplified): 非法移民Chinese (Traditional): 非法移民Hindi: गैरकानूनी प्रवासीArabic: مهاجرون غير شرعيينBengali: অবৈধ (লোক) - অননুমোদিত অভিবাসীRussian: нелегалыJapanese: 不法滞在者 - 不法移民Vietnamese: những người nhập cư bất hợp pháp - người ở trái phépKorean: 불법체류자 - 불법이민자Turkish: kaçaklar - yasadışı göçmenlerUrdu: غیر قانونی افراد - غیر قانونی تارکین وطنIndonesian: imigran ilegal - orang tanpa izin tinggal
Example Sentences
Some people call undocumented workers 'illegals'.
basic
The news sometimes reports about 'illegals' crossing the border.
basic
Some politicians use the word 'illegals' in their speeches.
basic
The word 'illegals' is seen as rude by many people.
natural
It's better to say 'undocumented immigrants' instead of 'illegals'.
natural
When people use 'illegals', it can cause hurt or anger.
natural