متخلّف VS. رجعي

[stultissimus]

In a palestinian TV sitcom a girl called her parents متخلّفبين. The dictionary says it means 'primitive', which suits the context, but I've heard before yet another word for primitive, 'رجعي'. What's the difference between these two words (especially in Palestinian/Levantine dialects)?

 

[WadiH]

رجعي means “reactionary”, so it’s a more ideologically-tinged term than متخلف, which means “backward”. They are often used interchangeably or coupled together, though.

 

[Mahaodeh]

I would say that the meaning in the above context is “regressive”, as in the opposite of progressive.

 

[WadiH]

"reactionary" and "regressive" mean very similar things (undoing a revolution vs. undoing "progress").

 

[Mahaodeh]

I don’t know, I always link reactionary with politics, maybe it’s just me but I feel they are different the same way that رجعي ومتخلف are different.

Perhaps I’m splitting hairs, I don’t know.