The term "Boer" refers to the descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa, primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries. These settlers, known as the Afrikaners, developed a distinct culture and language, Afrikaans, which is derived from Dutch. The Boers played a significant role in South African history, particularly during the Great Trek in the 1830s, when they moved inland to escape British rule. Boers are often associated with the Boer Wars, two conflicts fought between the British Empire and the Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These wars were marked by guerrilla warfare and had lasting impacts on South Africa's political landscape. Today, the term "Boer" can evoke various cultural and historical connotations within the context of South Africa.