The paper describes the development of the concept of "human" on linguistic material. Language data are drawn mainly from two surveys: T.Gamkrelidze, I.Ivanov. Indoevropejskii jazyk i indoevropejtzy and Yu.Stepanov Konstanty. Slovar‘ russkoy kul‘utury, as well as from etymological dictionaries.
On this basis, conclusions are drawn based on contemporary linguistic data and speech practice in various cultures.
Key words: concept, semantic opposition, us and them, human, comparative studies.
