Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a Turkic-speaking people: A Tatar is a person belonging to a Turkic ethnic group historically living in a region stretching from the Volga River to the Ural Mountains.
   • A member of a historical Mongol-led confederation: A Tatar can also refer to a member of the combined Mongol and Turkic forces that invaded parts of Europe and Asia, particularly Russia, in the 13th century.
   • The Turkic language: Tatar is the language spoken by the Tatar people.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Ethnic Group):
  • The Tatar have a rich cultural heritage in the Volga region.
  • She is a Tatar from Kazan.
• Noun (Historical Invader):
  • The Tatar armies under Batu Khan conquered vast territories.
• Noun (Language):
  • He is learning to speak Tatar.

Advanced Usage

• "Tatar" vs. "Tartar": Historically, "Tartar" was a common spelling in English, often carrying negative or exoticized connotations. The modern preferred spelling for the ethnic group and language is "Tatar", which is considered more accurate and respectful.
  • Modern scholarship uses the term "Tatar" for the people of the Volga-Ural region.

Variants and Related Words

• Tatarstan (n): A republic within the Russian Federation where many Tatars live.
  • Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan.
• Tartar (n, historical/archaic): An older English spelling for Tatar, also used in other contexts (e.g., dental tartar, a sauce).
  • The term "Tartar" appears in many historical texts.

Synonyms

• Historical context: Mongol warrior (when referring to the 13th-century invasions).
• Linguistic context: Turkic language.

Related Phrases

• "To catch a Tartar" (Idiom, archaic): This idiom uses the older spelling "Tartar." It means to encounter an opponent or situation that is much more formidable than expected.
  • The small company thought the lawsuit would be easy, but they caught a Tartar.

Noun

1. the Turkic language spoken by the Tatar living from the Volga to the Ural Mountains
2. a member of the Turkic-speaking people living from the Volga to the Ural Mountains (the name has been attributed to many other groups)
3. a member of the Mongolian people of central Asia who invaded Russia in the 13th century