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xenophile

/ˈzɛnəˌfɑɪl/
IPA guide

Other forms: xenophiles

Someone who is a huge fan of foreign countries and the people who live there is a xenophile. An American who can't get enough of Japanese movies, French fashion, Persian literature, and Ethiopian food is a xenophile.

Xenophile has Greek roots, xenos, "stranger," and philia, "love." A true xenophile isn't simply accepting of foreignness, but has deep, warm feelings for people from other countries and a fascination with their cultures. For some, this means a general preference for foreign people and places. For other xenophiles, there's a strong attraction to one or more specific cultures: "She's such a xenophile — she's been learning German and only wants to watch German movies and eat schnitzel now!"

Definitions of xenophile
  1. noun
    a person who is fascinated by foreign peoples and cultures
  2. adjective
    fascinated by foreign peoples and cultures
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