What does ghetto mean?
A ghetto most commonly denotes an urban neighborhood associated with concentrated poverty, housing discrimination, and the social exclusion of a particular group. The word can also refer more broadly to the condition of being isolated from the wider community. Historically, it was used for legally imposed residential quarters, especially the Venetian district in which Jews were confined. In modern English, it is especially common in American discussions of urban inequality, although it is also established in British English. Because the term identifies areas shaped by segregation and disadvantage, it can be inflammatory or offensive when applied loosely to any run-down neighborhood. In phrases such as “ghetto chic,” however, it may refer to an aesthetic associated with urban fashion and music. Its history makes the word especially revealing: what began as the name of a street in Venice became an influential term for discussing racial segregation, housing inequality, and social division.
An urban neighborhood or settlement regarded as occupied by a socially excluded group, especially because of poverty, racial segregation, or discrimination; also, the social condition associated with such isolation.
"Public-health researchers studied the effects of concentrated poverty in the city's ghettos."
The term carries strong historical and social connotations and should not be used as a neutral substitute for every low-income neighborhood.
To confine or segregate a group within a limited area, usually with the result that they are excluded from the wider community.
"The policy effectively ghettoed rural communities by cutting them off from essential services."
This use is uncommon and may sound dated or politically charged.
Relating to or characteristic of a ghetto; used attributively in expressions such as “ghetto chic.”
"The gallery's ghetto chic aesthetic drew criticism for romanticizing hardship."
This attributive use is informal and frequently appears in discussions of fashion, music, and design.
The standard plural is “ghettos”; the singular “ghetto” is unchanged before a vowel sound.
"Each city has several ghettos, though many residents reject the label."
The word behind “ghetto chic” began with the name of a Venetian street where Jews were confined.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ghetto come from?
English borrowed the word in the early 17th century from Italian getto, a Venetian dialect term for a street or lane. The Italian word came to denote the confined Jewish quarter of Venice and later broadened to mean a segregated urban district. The deeper origin of the Venetian term is uncertain, and theories connecting it with gettare, the Italian word for “to throw,” remain disputed.
Related word forms
How ghetto is actually used
The noun is familiar in both British and American English and is especially common in American urban discourse. It can sound derogatory when applied to any poor neighborhood, so historical and racial connotations should be considered. The verb and attributive adjective are uncommon and may sound informal, dated, or insensitive depending on context.
Easily confused with ghetto
A geto is a poor or marginalized neighborhood in a Spanish-speaking country, whereas a ghetto is the English term for a segregated or socially excluded urban district.