Ghetto vs. Slum

This time, I've decided to teach you every little detail about these two words. Do you even know what they mean? Well, c'mon.

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both refer to the in which people live. However, a 'ghetto' is an area in which a group of people with the same religion or nationality, etc. The people in 'ghettos' are mostly poor. A 'slum, on the other hand, is where there is extreme poverty, filth and dirt, and people from different religions and communities live along side one another.

Differences

As stated above, a 'ghetto' is where people of a common nationality, religion, or state live alongside one another. Most of them make little money. Look at the examples below:

Many Jews lived in ghettos in the past.

The government has decided to visit some ghettos near the capital.

'Slums', however, are extremely dirty and poor places where people of different nationalities, religions, etc. live alongside each other. Take a look at the examples below:

Gatsby was born in a slum.

Not all of the rich people come from slums, you know.

Similarities

Both of them refer to a particular place in which people live. Let us look at the following examples:

The increasing number of slums has become a threat to many countries.

Many Muslims live ghettos in this country.

Are They Interchangeable?

Some people tend to use them interchangeably. However, if you want to emphasize the point that a particular group of people lives in an area, you have to use 'ghetto' because different groups of people live in slums. Compare:

✓ It is unfair to throw those different from us away and make them live in ghettos.

✓ It is unfair to throw those different from us away and make them live in slums.

This one is correct but it has a different meaning than the above one.

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