Comrade

In German, the word Kamerad had long been used as an affectionate form of address among people linked by some strong common interest, such as a sport, a college, a profession (notably as a soldier), or simply friendship.

Originally, "tovarisch" meant "business companion" or "travel (or other adventure) mate" deriving from the Old Turkic tavar ishchi; abbreviated tov., and related to the noun товар (tovar, meaning 'merchandise').

After the Russian Revolution, translations of "tovarisch" spread globally among communists, though the term "comrade" became closely associated with the Soviet Union specifically in the eyes of many.

[9] With the February Revolution of 1917, traditional forms of address common in Tsarist Russia would become deeply unpopular and were replaced by the more republican and egalitarian title of citizen.

Yet, it was widely used across society: socialists in the Provisional Government were known as 'comrade ministers', policemen and Cossacks were addressed as 'comrades', and even rural witch-doctors became 'comrade spirits'.

[10] During the revolutionary period, once the Bolsheviks had taken power, they continued to use "comrade" to address or refer to people presumed to be sympathetic to the revolution and to the Soviet state, such as workers, members of the Communist Party, and (for a time) Left Socialist-Revolutionaries.

[11] By the mid-1920s, the address Tovarisch had become so widespread in the Soviet Union that it was used casually as titles like "Mister" or "Sir" in English.

[12] In Chinese, the translation of comrade is 同志 (pinyin: tóng zhì), literally meaning '(people with) the same spirit, goal, ambition, etc.'.

Within the Communist Party, failure to address a fellow member as tóng zhì is seen as a subtle but unmistakable sign of disrespect and enmity.

[17] During the 1970s and 1980s, comrade emerged as a popular revolutionary form of address in South Africa among those involved in anti-apartheid political activities.

[19] Among poor residents of the country's segregated townships, it was also used to specifically denote members of militant youth organisations.

[20] These radical activists led consumer boycotts, organised anti-apartheid rallies and demonstrations, and intimidated those suspected of having ties to the South African government or security forces.

It features prominently in chant songs by University student leaders and popular youth culture as a term of endearment.