List of ethnic slurs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of ethnic slurs that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity or to refer to them in a derogatory (critical or disrespectful), pejorative (disapproving or contemptuous), or insulting manner in the English-speaking world. For the purposes of this list, an ethnic slur is a term or word[s] used to insult on the basis of race, ethnicity, or nationality. Each term is listed followed by its country or region of usage, a definition, and a reference to that term (unless a well-referenced Wikipedia article exist).

Quite a few ethnic slurs may be produced by combining a general-purpose insult with the name of ethnicity, such as "dirty Arab", "dirty Jew", "Chinese pig", "Russian pig", etc. Other common insulting modifiers include "dog", "filthy", etc. Such terms are not included in this list.


Contents
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness.
Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.

0-9

5 and 2 / 5 by 2 / 4 by 2 / 3 by 2 
(England) Cockney rhyming slang for a Jew. Originated in the early 1900s.[1]

A

Abbie / Abe / Abie 
(North America) a Jewish male. From the proper name Abraham. Originated before the 1950s.[2]
ABCD 
(Subcontinentals in U.S.) "American-Born Confused Desi", used to imply that an American-born South Asian is confused about their cultural identity. ABCD is the most common version of the phrase, but there are variations of it that extend all the way to the letter 'z' in at least two different versions: "American Born Confused Desi, Emigrated From Gujarat, House in Jersey, Kids Learning Medicine, Now Owning Property, Quite Reasonable Salary, Two Uncles Visiting, White Xenophobia Yet Zestful" and "American Born Confused Desi, Emigrated From Gujarat, Housed In Jersey, Keeping Lotsa Motels, Named Omkarnath Patel, Quickly Reached Success Through Underhanded Vicious Ways, Xenophobic Yet Zestful"[3]
Abo / Abbo 
(AUS) Australian Aboriginal person. Originally, this was simply an informal term for "Aborigine", and was in fact used by Aboriginal people themselves until it started to be considered offensive in 1950s. In remoter areas, Aboriginal people still often refer to themselves (quite neutrally) as "Blackfellas" (and whites as "Whitefellas"). Although "Abo" is still considered quite offensive by many, the pejorative "boong" is now more commonly used when the intent is to deliberately offend, as that word's status as an insult is unequivocal.[4]
Afro-Saxon 
(North America) A young white male devotee of African-American pop culture.[5]
Alabama Blue Gums 
(U.S.) a black person.[6][7][8]
Albino 
(U.S.) A term for whites, also a derogatory term for light skinned blacks used by darker skinned blacks.[9] (see colorism)
Allah lover 
Muslim.[10]
Alligator bait 
(U.S.) also "Gator Bait." A black person, especially a black child. More commonly used in states where alligators are found — particularly Florida. First used in the early 1900s, although some hypothesize the term originated in the late 1800s.[11]
Alter kacker / alter kocker (Yiddish) / alter kucker / A.K. 
(North America) a disparaging term for elderly Jewish people. The term is of Yiddish origin (literally meaning old shitter). First used in the early 1900s.[12]
Ami 
(Germany) American. Formerly specifically for American soldiers, now for Americans in general.[13]
Anglo-pilferer
An Anglo-Australian possibly of convict lineage. Based on the belief that all Anglo-Australians are descended from convicts. Particularly offensive.[14]
Ann 
(North America) A white woman to a black person — or a black woman who acts too much like a white one. While Miss Ann, also just plain Ann, is a derisive reference to the white woman, by extension it is applied to any black woman who puts on airs and tries to act like Miss Ann.[15]
Ape 
(U.S.) a black person.[16]
Apple 
(North America) An American Indian (Native American) who is "red on the outside, white on the inside." Used primarily by other American Indians to indicate someone who has lost touch with their cultural identity. First used in the 1980s.[17]
Argie 
(UK) a native of Argentina (also Argie-bargie : any argument, disagreement, or (typically) sporting event involving Argentina or Argentinians), used by the British press during the Falklands War. Coined by Britain's The Sun newspaper in 1982.[18]
As dry as a pommy's towel 
(Australia) very dry. Pommy=Englishman. Possibly from the perception that Englishmen do not bathe very often, or less likely from the popular belief that Englishmen don't sweat.[19]
Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally / Aunt Thomasina 
(U.S.) a black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout", female counterpart of Uncle Tom.[20]

B

Baak gwai
(China, Hong Kong) a Caucasian person.[21] From the Cantonese (linguistics) pronunciation of the characters: 白鬼, this literally translates to "white ghost" or "white devil."[22] Also see: Gweilo.
Beaner
(U.S.) term widely regarded as derogatory, that refers to people of Mexican descent or, more broadly, mestizos.[23][24][25] The term originates from the prevalence of frijoles pintos and other beans in Mexican food.[25][26]
According to The Historical Dictionary of American Slang, the word was first seen in print in 1965, although the term has reportedly been in use at least since the 1940s (perhaps having evolved from previous slurs such as "bean-eater" and "bean-bandit" that were in use since as far back as the 1910s.)[23]
Although the word is generally considered pejorative, its usage is not always overtly offensive and can be fairly benign depending on the context (similar to the term "frog" for a French person.) Though perhaps once considered strictly offensive, it appears that the term may be going through a phase of melioration, where the negative connotation of an ethnic slur is "reclaimed" by those it is directed against and used in a neutral or even positive manner.[23]
Boche; bosche; bosch 
(France; U.S.; UK) a German [from either French caboche head, or Alboche, modification of Allemand German].[27]
Bog Irish 
(AUS) a person of common or low class Irish ancestry.[28][29]
Bohunk 
(North America) a person of east-central European descent. Originally referred to those of Bohemian (now Czech Republic) descent. Was commonly used toward Ukrainian immigrants during the early 20th century.[30]
Boong / bong / bung
(Aus) Australian aboriginal.[31] Related to the Australian English slang word bung, meaning "dead", "infected", "dysfunctional". From bung, to go bung "Originally to die, then to break down, go bankrupt, cease to function [Ab. bong dead]".[32] Highly offensive. [First used in 1847 by JD Lang, Cooksland, 430][33]
Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie 
(New Zealand) a Pacific Islander [alteration of boong].[34]
Bounty Bar 
A Bounty chocolate bar, being composed of coconut coated with chocolate, is white on the inside and brown on the outside. As with wigger, this is a both a subcultural and ethnic slur. The immediate target is denigrated for having the cultural values of a different ethnic group, with the implication that that ethnic group is bad or inferior. Coconut and Oreo are used in the same way.[35]
Brownie 
(U.S.) a. a person of mixed white and black ancestry; a mulatto. b. (U.S.) a young, brown-skinned person 1940s-1950s[36]
Buffie 
a. black person.[37]
b. (U.S.) a young, brown-skinned person 1940s-1950s[38]
Bulgaroskopian 
(Greece) - A derogatory term used to refer to ethnic Macedonians[39]

C

Camel Jockey 
(North America) a person of Middle-Eastern descent.[40]
CBCD 
(Subcontinentals in Canada) - Canadian-Born Confused Desi - Similar to ABCD, but used for Canadian-born South Asians who are confused about their cultural identity.[41]
Celestial 
a race-specific term used to describe Chinese immigrants in the United States, Canada and Australia during the 19th century. The term was widely used in the popular mass media of the day. The term is derived from their status as subjects of the Son of Heaven, the Chinese Emperor.
Charlie 
(North America) a mildly derogatory term used by African Americans, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, to refer to a white person (from James Baldwin's novel, Blues For Mr. Charlie). The same word was also a generally non-pejorative slang term used by American troops during the Vietnam War as a short-hand term for Vietnamese guerrillas: it was shortened from "Victor Charlie", the NATO phonetic alphabet for Viet Cong, or VC.[42]
Chav 
(UK) A UK-specific insult that can mean either White Trash, Wigger or both. Also know as Hoodies.
Chee-chee 
a Eurasian half-caste [probably from Hindi chi-chi fie!, literally, dirt][43]
Chinaman 
(Worldwide English) Chinese person, used in old American west when discrimination against Chinese was common.[44] The term generates controversy when still used in geographic places associated or resembling Chinese. Though it is still heard in the lyrics to the 70s song "Kung Fu Fighting", it tends to generate objections in modern times, especially in the US. Asian-American is the preferred nomenclature. See Chinaman (disambiguation) for other uses.
Cheese-eating surrender monkey 
(UK and US) A Frenchman, from the perceived proclivity of the French to surrender in military confrontations and the huge variety of French cheeses available.
Ching Chong 
(U.S. and Canada) Mocking the language of or a person of perceived Chinese or East Asian descent. An offensive term which has raised considerable controversy when used by celebrities such as Rosie O'Donnell.[45]
Chink 
(U.S. and UK) used to refer to people of perceived Chinese descent, and by extension for other East Asians. Considered extremely derogatory, although at least one US school proudly used the term as a sports mascot until the 1980s.[46]
Clog Wog 
(AUS) a person of Dutch origin, not always offensive.[47]
Cholo 
(Latin American Spanish, USA) used to refer to people of perceived amerindian descent. It may be derogatory depending on circumstances. Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo was nicknamed "el Cholo".[48]
Coconut 
(New Zealand) A Pacific Islander. Named after the coconut, the nut from the coconut palm.[49]
Coolie 
(North America) unskilled Asian labor, usually Chinese (originally used in 19th-century for Chinese railroad labor). Possibly from Hindi/Telugu kuli, day laborer.[50] Also racial epithet for Indo-Caribbean people, especially in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and South African Indians, where it is considered on par with "nigger".
Coon 
(U.S. and U.K) a black person. Possibly from Portuguese barraco, a building constructed to hold slaves for sale (1837),[51][52] or from the c. 1830 American folk song Zip Coon.
Coonass, or Coon-ass
(U.S.) a person of Cajun ethnicity.[53]
Cracker 
(U.S.) poor Appalachian or poor Southerner, first used in the 19th century.[54]
Crow 
a black person,[55] spec. a black woman.
Cunt-eyed 
(U.S.) adjective: a person with slanted eyes (first used in the 1910s)[56]
Curry-muncher 
(Africa, New Zealand) a person of East Indian origin.[57]

D

Dago
(U.S.) an Italian or person of Italian descent. In the UK used to refer to Spaniards or Portuguese, possibly derived from the Spanish name "Diego".[58]
Darky 
noun. Used as a disparaging term for a black person.[59]
Dhoti
In Nepal the word Dhoti is often used as an ethnic slur against the Madhesi community of Nepal and Indians by the majority population of Nepal. This may be because of the popularity of dhotis in the terai region and the bordering Indian states.[60]
Dink
an Asian, esp. a Vietnamese. Also used as a disparaging term for a North Vietnamese soldier or guerrilla in the Vietnam War. Origin: 1965–70, Americanism; cf. Australian slang dink Chinese person; perh. back formation from dinky, reinforced by rhyme with Chink[61]
Dogan, dogun 
(CAN) Irish Catholic [19th century on; origin uncertain: perhaps from Dugan, an Irish surname].[62]
Dune coon 
(US) Derogatory term used for Arabs and other peoples of the Middle East.[63]. Popularised in David O. Russell's movie about Gulf War I Three Kings (1999).
Dutchman 
noun. (1) [19th century on, Dutch being corrupted from the Pennsylvania German self-descriptive word Deitsch. Anyone of Germanic heritage (as with Anglo-Celtic Pennsylvanians) a Pennsylvania German; (2) (mid-1800s to 1920s) a foreigner, especially one who does not speak English well; (3) a bar keeper;[64] (4) anglophone South African whites, used for Afrikaner[65]

E

Eskimo 
A synonym for the Inuit. (US) The term may or may not be offensive, considering some tribes in Alaska still prefer to be called by that general name.[66][67] The CFL's Edmonton Eskimos use this name as a nod to the popular nickname.
eSStonia
(Russia) An offensive term applied to Estonia to portray it as a country ruled by Nazi sympathisers.[68]. Often used in internet media by Russians after the Bronze soldier incident. The doubled S is a hint to the Waffen SS.

F

Fenian 
(Northern Ireland and west of Scotland Protestants) originally the name of a political movement, the Fenian Brotherhood, but now a derogatory term aimed at Catholics, especially those thought to sympathise with the IRA.[69]
Flip 
(Western World) A derogatory term for Filipinos.[70]
Free Stater 
(Northern Ireland) a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, especially to Ulster Protestants. Also used by Irish Republicans to refer to Irish people who they believe are less than patriotic.[71]
Fritz 
(UK, France, Hungary ("fricc"), Poland [Fryc], Russia [фриц] ) a German [from Friedrich (Frederick)].[72]
Frog 
(Canada UK US) A French person. Comes from the French recipe for eating frogs' legs (see comparable French term Rosbif). Also used in Canada to refer to both the French and French Canadians, more specifically to people from Quebec.[73]

G

"Gook" redirects here. For the translator, see Arthur Charles Gook.
Gable 
a black person.[74]
Gin 
(AUS) an Aboriginal woman.[75]
Gin jockey 
(AUS) a white person having casual sex with an Aboriginal woman. Pejorative. See also gin burglar[76]
Ginzo 
(U.S.) an Italian-American.[77]
Gook 
(U.S. military slang) a derogatory term for foreigners, especially south-east Asians[78] . The etymology of this racial slur is shrouded in mystery, disagreement, and controversy. The Oxford English Dictionary admits that its origin in "unknown".[79]
  • According to Random House Unabridged Dictionary, "a native of Southeast Asia or the South Pacific, esp. when a member of an enemy military force. any dark-skinned foreigner, esp. one from the Middle East." [80]
  • According to Princeton University Dictionary, it described as "a disparaging term for an Asian person (especially for North Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War)." [80]
  • According to Online Etymology Dictionary, "1899, U.S. military slang for 'Filipino' during the insurrection there, probably from a native word, or imitative of the babbling sound of their language to American ears (cf. barbarian). The term goo-goo eyes 'soft, seductive eyes' was in vogue c.1900 and may have contributed to this somehow. Extended over time to 'Nicaraguan,' 'any Pacific Islander' (World War II), 'Korean' (1950s), 'Vietnamese' and 'any Asian' (1960s)." [80]
  • According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, "Used as a disparaging term for a person of East Asian birth or descent. Perhaps alteration of earlier goo-goo, native inhabitant of the Philippines, Pacific islander." [80]
Goy (גוי) 
(Jews) a non-Jew (Gentile)[81]or someone who does not practice Judaism; The Hebrew and Yiddish word goy (plural: גוים, goyim) means "nation" or "people". The word is used over 550 times in the Hebrew Bible referring to both the Israelites and non-Israelites, when referencing an entire nation.
Goyisher kopf 
(Jews) This exclamation is said by Jews when they say or do something stupid (literally, "gentile-head").[82]
Greaseball
(US) a person of Italian descent. Or rarely, a person of Hispanic descent.[83]
Gringo
(Latin American, Hispanic Americans, Portugal) a white person or foreigner. The term lends itself to derogatory or paternalistic connotations, but depending on the context it may not be meant pejoratively. Probably derives from the Spanish word for "Greek" (griego), applied to foreigners. In Brazil, "gringo" is applied to any foreigners (including Mexicans or Argentines) and has no negative connotations by itself.[84]
Gub, Gubba 
(AUS) Aboriginal pejorative term for white people[85]
Guinea 
A person of Italian descent. Derived from "Guinea Negro," due to the belief that dark-skinned Italians were part African.
Gweilo, gwailo, or kwai lo (鬼佬) 
(used in South of Mainland China and Hong Kong) A White man. Loosely translated as "foreign devil;" more literally, might be "ghost dude/bloke/guy/etc." Gwei means "ghost." The color white is associated with ghosts in China. A lo is a regular guy (i.e. a fellow, a chap, or a bloke).[86] Once a mark of xenophobia, the word is now in general, informal use[87] but still considered derogatory. This term was heard in the 2007 flim Balls of Fury
Gyppo, gippo, gypo, gyppie, gyppy, gipp 
(UK) a. A Gypsy (see below). b. (UK and Australian military) Egyptians,[88] sometimes used affectionately, but "bloody Gyppo" was a term of abuse.

H

Haji 
(US) Used by U.S. military to describe Iraqis or Arabs.[89][90]
Haole 
(US, Hawaiian) A non-native, used by Hawaiians mainly to refer to whites (less commonly to refer to non-Hawaiians.[91]. In contemporary Hawaii, the term Haole can be used descriptively to mean caucasians in terms of race, or can be used negatively or as a racial epithet, though some people take it to always be insulting, it has various meanings depending upon use context.
Hapa 
(US, Hawaiian) Of mixed Asian race. Like with the slur "nigger" Asians of mixed ancestry are using this word to destigmatize the term.[92] It still can be regarded as a racial slur, as being called colored. In modern Hawaii, the term is common and merely descriptive of people of mixed race, namely part Hawaiian and part non-Hawaiian. There is also a popular band named Hapa which has two musicians, one caucasian and one mixed race Hawaiian, which performs modern and traditional Hawaiian music. It is used in some US regions in a strictly non-pejorative sense and is utilized in the names of some ethnic organizations [93]
Heeb, Hebe
(U.S.) offensive term for a Jewish person, derived from the word "Hebrew".[94][95]
Hindoo 
(AUS) 19th century, Hindu. Often not offensive.[96]
Honky also spelled "honkey" or "honkie" 
(1) (U.S.) An offensive term for a white person. Derived from an African-American pronunciation of "hunky", the disparaging term for a Hungarian laborer. The first record of its use as an insulting term for a white person dates from the 1950s. Also used in the British Commonwealth with less derogatory implications.[97]
Husky 
an Eskimo of Labrador and northeastern Canada or his language — sometimes taken to be offensive [probably by shortening and alteration from Eskimo] Sometimes used in conjunction with Skimo.[98]
Hun 
(U.S. and U.K.) A derogatory term for Germans, especially German soldiers; popular during World War I.[99] Also an offensive term for a Protestant

I

Ikey / ike / iky 
a Jew [from Isaac][100]
Ikey-mo / ikeymo 
a Jew [from Isaac and Moses][101]
Injun 
an offensive term for a Native American.[102]
Inkface 
a black person.[103]

J

Jerry 
(Commonwealth, especially during World War II) a. a German national. b. a German soldier [Probably an alteration of German].[104] Origin of Jerry can.
Jigaboo, jiggabo, jigarooni, jijjiboo, zigabo, jig, jigg, jigga, jigger 
(U.S. and UK) a black person (JB) with stereotypical Black features (e.g. dark skin, wide nose, and big lips).[105]
Jim Fish 
(South Africa) a Black person[106]
Jock, jocky, jockie 
(UK) A Scottish person, dialect form of personal name John. Occasionally used by the English as an insult.[107]but also in respectful reference to elite Scottish, particularly Highland troops, e.g. the 9th (Scottish) Division. Same vein as the English insult for the French, as Frogs.
Jungle bunny 
(U.S. and UK) a Black person (although it is used humorously in the musical Hair).[108]

K

Kaffir, kaffer, kaffir, kafir, kaffre, kuffar 
(South Africa) a. a black person. Very offensive. Usage: Kaffir Boy was a famous autobiographical book by Mark Mathabane about his childhood in South Africa. (The South African Consul General in Lethal Weapon 2 calls Danny Glover a kaffir and Mel Gibson a 'kaffir lover'.) b. also caffer or caffre: a non-Muslim. c. a member of a people inhabiting the Hindu Kush mountains of north-east Afghanistan. Origin is from the Arab word kafir meaning 'infidel' used in the early Arab trading posts in Africa. The term is still used as a pejorative by Islamists in such a context. The term passed into modern usage through the British, who used the term to refer to the mixed groupings of people displaced by Shaka when he organized the Zulu nation. These groups (consisting of Mzilikaze, Matiwani, Mantatisi, Flingoe, Hottentot, and Xhosa peoples inhabited the region from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo river) fought the British in the Kaffir Wars 1846–1848, 1850–1852, and 1877–1878.)[109][110] See also Kaffir (Historical usage in southern Africa)
Kike or kyke 
(U.S.) a Jew. From kikel, Yiddish for "circle". Immigrant Jews signed legal documents with an "O" (similar to an "X").[111]
Kraut (from Sauerkraut) 
(North America and Commonwealth) Derogatory U.S. and British term for a German,[112] most specifically during World War II.

L

Limey 
(US) A British person. Comes from the historical British naval practice of giving sailors limes to stave off scurvy.[113]

M

Macaca (from macaque)
Epithet used to describe a Negro (originally) or a person of North-African origin (more recently). Came to public attention in 2006 when U.S. Senator George Allen infamously used it to describe a person of Indian descent.[114]
Mack, Mick, Mickey, Mickey Finn 
a. (Britain, Commonwealth and U.S.) an Irish person or a person of Irish descent. Mick is considered more offensive in the U.K. and U.S.. From the prefix "Mc"/"Mac" meaning "son of" that is commonly found in Irish surnames. b. (Australia) a Roman Catholic [19th century on, from Michael].[115]
Maracucho
A person from the City of Maracaibo in North Western Venezuela, also applied to everybody from the State of Zulia. This term was created by other Venezuelans to depict the people from that region, however is no longer considered derogatory. [116]
Mock / moch 
(U.S.) a Jew [first used in the 1960s as an abbreviated form of mocky (qv)][117]
Mocky / moky / moxy / mockey / mockie / mocky 
(U.S.) a Jew [first used in the 1930s][118]
Monkey 
(UK) a black person.[119] Also used by white people in Southeast Asia to describe local people.
Munt 
(among whites in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia) a black person. Derives from muntu, the singular of Bantu[120]

N

Nigel 
(AUS) Used during Vietnam War as derogatory slang for any Vietnamese. Also nigel nog[121] See nig nog below.
Nig-nog 
(UK) a black person.[122] - note alternative original mildly derogatory meaning in the UK: "a novice; a foolish or naive person"[123]
Nigger / Niger / nig / nigor / nigra / nigre (Caribbean) / nigar / niggor / niggur / nigga / niggah / niggar / nigguh 
(International) An American-English slur originally used to refer to dark skinned people but had developed a dual meaning in the late 20th century. It is derived from the Spanish term negro, meaning black color - not black race, which may also be offensive because of its close association and pronunciation to nigger. Nigger was widely used in early American culture, without risk of being politically incorrect, to disparage African-Americans. This use coincided with slavery within the Americas and continued wide use until its lack of social acceptance in the late 1950s to mid 1960s.
Nigger has since taken a dual meaning. Depending on the context and locale, its interpretation can range from being deeply disparaging to acknowledging kinship or closeness. The latter interpretation, and its proliferation in late 20th century pop culture among some African-Americans, has led to the perception of the term nigger being acceptable and widely used within African-American communities between African-Americans. The usage between persons of the opposite race or non-blacks - especially when used by a white person towards a black person - is not as acceptable. The strife between pop culture and politically correct culture has led to attempts to avoid words with similar pronunciation - e.g. Niger, niggardly, and negro. Some use derivations such as nig, nigga, niggaz, and nizzle to reflect kinship while avoiding a direct pronunciation of nigger. This is seen as less offensive. Others completely avoid the usage outside of scholastics.
Nigrew 
(U.S.) A derogatory term for a practising Jew of African-American desent (shortened version of Nigger and Jew)[124]
Nip 
(U.S.) A derogatory term for someone of Japanese descent (shortened version of Nipponese, from Japanese name for Japan, Nippon)[125]
Nitchie, neche, neechee, neejee, nichi, nichiwa, nidge, nitchee, nitchy 
(CAN) a North American Indian [From the Algonquian word for "friend"].[126]

O

Ocker 
(AUS and NZ) Uncultivated Australian.[127] Also considered authentic and unaffected. Possibly used at one time by British people in the 1960s-1970s to refer to boorish Australians, its use has fallen out of favour and it would be fair to say its use is now overwhelmingly confined to the local population.
Oreo 
(US) A racial slur for being black on the outside and white on the inside, hinted by the appearance of an Oreo cookie.[128]

P

Paddy
(Primarily UK) an Irishman.[129]
Paki / Pakki
(Primarily UK and Canada, sometimes US, NZ and India) a South Asian. Within the UK, the term originates in Northern England, where a large number of South-Asians arrived in the 1950s and 1960s, and where they and their descendents have settled in cities such as Bradford and Leeds. It is usually considered offensive when used by a non-South Asian in the UK.[130][131]
Pancake Face, Pancake 
An Asian person[132]
Pepper
(Canada) a French Canadian or French-speaking Québécois[133]
Pikey / piky / piker 
(Britain) a. Irish Traveller, b. Gypsy, c. a lower-class person. Sometimes used to refer to an Irish person [19th century on].[134]
Pocho / pocha 
(Southwest U.S., Mexico) adjective: term for a person of Mexican heritage who is partially or fully assimilated into American culture (literally, "over-ripe").[135] (See also "Chicano")
Polack 
a Pole or a person of Polish origin,[136] from the Polish endonym, Polak (see Name of Poland)
Pom, Pohm, Pommy, Pommie 
(AUS/NZ/SA) a British (usually English) immigrant. Some claim it derives from "Prisoner of Mother England", but it probably derives from pomegranate, rhyming slang for "immigrant,[137] jimmygrant, pommygrant". It is often used irreverently and is usually considered offensive. Many such migrants to Australia call themselves "ten pound poms", because they paid ten pounds for their passage to Australia between 1945 and 1972 under an assisted migration scheme. Often combined with an adjective, particularly whingeing pom, a reference to migrants who complained about their adopted country. Often used in a sporting (especially cricket and rugby) context, with liberal use of 'pom' and 'aussie' being used by the media; the term is often seen as unoffensive in this context, and instead as light-hearted banter.
Porch monkey 
a black person.[138]
Powder burn 
(US) a black person.[139]
Pseudomacedonian 
(Greece) - A derogatory term used to refer to ethnic Macedonians, and asserts their nationhood is contrived[140].

Q

Quashie 
a black person.[141] From the West African name Kwazi, often given to a child born on a Sunday[142]

R

Raghead 
an ethnic slur used against Arabs, Indian Sikhs and some other peoples, denigrating them for wearing traditional headdress such as turbans or keffiyehs.[143] Sometimes used generically for all Islamic nations.
Redneck 
prejudiced term applied to rural White Americans, especially those of the southern states; the term is thought to come either from the sunburned necks of farm laborers, or from the belief that they had some American Indian ancestry (cf. redskin).[144] Since the 1990s it has become a popular term of self-reference in the South and lower Midwest, as in the song "Redneck Woman" and the "redneck test" routine of comedian and humor writer Jeff Foxworthy.
Redskin 
an offensive racial descriptor for Native Americans, controversially used as the name for a professional sports team.[145] Some Native Americans use the shortened form 'skin in self-reference, much in the same way that nigga is used by some African-Americans.
Roundeye 
(English-speaking Asians) a white or non-Asian person.[146]
Russki, Russkie, Roshky 
disparaging for "Russian"[147] (actually, these are transliterations of the Russian "Русский" for "Russian" and the spelling Russkiy is almost always in a literary context.)

S

Saes 
(Wales) An often derogatory word used by the Welsh to refer to the English. Derives from the Welsh word Saeson, i.e. Saxon. (See Sassenach for Scottish derivative)[148]
Sand nigger/Sand coon 
(American) Derogatory term for an Arab person. [149]
Sassenach 
(Scotland) - An English person, Scots for "Saxon".[150]
Sawney 
(England, archaic) - A Scottish person, local variant of Sandy, short for "Alexander".[151]
Seppo, Septic 
(Australian/British) An American. (Cockney rhyming slang: Septic tank — Yank)[152]
Skip, Skippy 
(Australian) - see "Wog". Used in reverse, to refer to Australians of Anglo-Celtic appearance. From the name of a kangaroo star of an Australian television series;
Slanteyed 
pejorative term for being of Far Eastern origin, a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, derived from the term for those who have epicanthic folds[153]
Slope, slopehead, slopy, slopey 
(U.S. and Aus) a person of Asian (in Australia, especially Vietnamese; in America, especially Chinese) descent.[154]
Smoked Irish / smoked Irishman 
(U.S.) 19th century term for Blacks (intended to insult both Blacks and Irish).[155]
Snowback 
(U.S.) A Canadian immigrant.[156] (presumably akin to "wetback", a U.S. derogatory term for an individual, usually of Mexican or other Central/South American origin, that illegally enters the U.S across its border with Mexico by wading or swimming the Rio Grande.)
Sooty 
a black person [originated in the U.S. in the 1950s][157]
Spade 
A black person.[158] recorded since 1928 (OED), from the playing cards suit.
Spaghetti Bender
(North America and UK) an Italian[159]
Spaghetti Nigger
(North America) an Italian[160]
Spic, spick, spik, spig, or spigotty 
(U.S, U.K) a. a person of Hispanic descent, or a person of actual or presumed Puerto Rican origin whether or not of Hispanic descent. Use of the word is often perceived as extremely offensive if used by a person not of Latino descent in any context. Origin uncertain. First recorded use in 1915. Theories include from "no spik English" (and spiggoty from the Chicano no speak-o t'e English), but common belief is that it is an abbreviation of "Hispanic" b. the Spanish language.[161]
Squaw 
(U.S. and CAN) Often offensive term for female Native American. [162] Derived from lower East Coast Algonquian (Massachuset: ussqua)[163], which originally meant "vulva" or "vagina", but was used as a derogatory term for females of an enemy tribe (usually Iroquoians), and later applied by the English to all Native American women. (The equivalent derisive for a male is "a brave", although it is sometimes used in a positive context as in the film Braveheart.)

T

Taffy or Taff 
(UK) a Welsh person. First used ca. 17th century. From the River Taff or the Welsh pronunciation of the name David (in Welsh, Dafydd).[164] Children's rhyme: "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief". Generally considered offensive when used by an English person, although it has appeared in such family-friendly series as Dad's Army, where it was used as a lighthearted nickname.
Taig (also Teague, Teg and Teig)
a vitriolic slur used by loyalists in Northern Ireland for members of the nationalist/Catholic/Gaelic community.[165][166]
Tar baby 
(UK; U.S.; and N.Z.) a black child.[167] See Tar baby.
Teapot 
(British) A black person. [1800s][168]
Thicklips 
(UK) a black person.[169] See Shakespeare's "Othello."
Tinker / tynekere / tinkere / tynkere, -are / tynker / tenker / tinkar / tyncar / tinkard / tynkard / tincker
a. (Britain and Ireland) an inconsequential person (typically lower class); (note that in Britain, the term "Irish Tinker" may be used, giving it the same meaning as example b.)
b. (Scotland and Ireland) a Gypsy [origin unknown - possibly relating to one of the 'traditional' occupations of Gypsies as travelling 'tinkerers' or repairers of common household objects][170]
c. (Scotland) a member of the native community previously itinerant (but mainly now settled) who were reputed for their production of domestic implements from basic materials and for repair of the same items, being also known in the past as "travelling tinsmiths". The slur is possibly derived from a reputation for rowdy and alcoholic recreation. Often wrongly confused with Gypsy/Romany people.
Touch of the tar brush 
(British) outdated derogatory descriptive phrase for a person of predominantly caucasian ancestry with real or suspected African or Asian distant ancestry.[171]
Towel head, also towelhead
a person of Arab descent or "a native of any race that wears a cloth covering on the head". Also rag head[172]


W

West Briton / Westbrit 
(Ireland) is for an Irish person who has sympathies toward Britain, or who imitates the English.[173]
Wetback 
(US) Used to describe Mexican illegal immigrants, who allegedly entered the country by swimming the Rio Grande.[174]
White Nigger / Wigger / Whigger / Wigga
(US) Used in 19th-century United States to describe the Irish. Used today to demean any White person as being White trash, or an ignorant and uncouth redneck.[175] Also used to describe white youth that imitate urban black youth by means of clothing style, mannerisms, and slang speech. Also used by radical Québécois in self-reference, as in the seminal 1968 book White Niggers of America.
Whitey 
A term for a white person, commonly used in a derogatory manner.[176]
Wog 
In Australia, the term "wog" is usually used to refer to Mediterranean, Southern/Eastern European and Middle Eastern people, such as Italians, Greeks, Macedonians, Serbs, or Croats. However, it can also refer to any swarthy people. In Britain, it usually refers to dark skinned people from Asia or Africa. Possibly derived from "golliwogg"[177]
Wop 
(North America and UK) A racial term for anyone of Italian descent, derived from the Italian dialectism "guappo", close to "dude" and other informal appellations. [178]


Yellow 
designating or pertaining to an Asian person, in reference to those who have a yellowish skin color.[179]
Yank 
(UK/Australian) A term for an American, commonly used in a derogatory manner, although some Americans refer to themselves this way when addressing foreign audiences.[180]

See also

Literature

  • John A. Simpson, Oxford Dictionary Of Modern Slang ISBN 0-19-861052-1
  • John A. Simpson, Oxford English Dictionary Additions Series ISBN 0-19-861299-0
  • Eric Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, (2002)
  • Richard A. Spears, Slang and Euphemism, (2001)
  • Jonathon Green, The Cassell Dictionary of Slang (1998)
  • Bruce Moore (editor), The Australian Oxford Dictionary, (2004)
  • The New Oxford American Dictionary, second edition. Ed. Erin McKean. (Oxford University Press: 2005.
  • The Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. (Oxford University Press: 2004)
  • G.A. Wilkes, A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms (Sydney: Fontana/Collins, 1978) ISBN 0 00 635719 9

References

  1. ^ Richard A. Spears, Slang and Euphemism, (2001) p. 130
  2. ^ Spears, loc. cit. p. 1.
  3. ^ ABCDlady Magazine - for the American Born Confident Desi
  4. ^ Bruce Moore (editor), The Australian Oxford Dictionary, (2004) p. 3.
  5. ^ Speers, loc. cit. p.4.
  6. ^ Do You Say Nigga? - Page 3 - Sony Pictures
  7. ^ Viceland - iHustle - When Addicts Create
  8. ^ [1][dead link]
  9. ^ Ethnic_resources
  10. ^ Giambattista Basile, The Tale of Tales, p. 438.
  11. ^ Speers, loc. cit. pg. 6.
  12. ^ Green, loc. cit. p. 19.
  13. ^ AMI | English | Dictionary & Translation by Babylon
  14. ^ Macquarie Dictionary (3rd ed)
  15. ^ Hugh Rawson, Wicked Words, (1989) p. 19.
  16. ^ Spears, loc. cit. p. 10.; also, Zoo Ape or Jungle Ape
  17. ^ Green, loc. cit. p. 25.
  18. ^ Guardian Report: A new Britain, a new kind of newspaper February 25 2002
  19. ^ Spears, loc. cit. p. 12.
  20. ^ Green, loc. cit. p. 36.
  21. ^ The CantoDict Project
  22. ^ The CantoDict Project
  23. ^ a b c The Mouth of Mencia, from The Washington Post, September 28, 2005
  24. ^ San Diego's top Latino cop retires, from The San Diego Union-Tribune, September 1, 2005
  25. ^ a b Pedro deflects the barbs; Racist comments don't faze Sox ace, from The Boston Herald, September 14, 2000
  26. ^ You are what you eat ... arguably: John Sutherland On national nicknames from The Guardian (UK), July 31, 2000
  27. ^ Dictionnaire, p. 103; "boche", Webster's.
  28. ^ "Costello Slammed for 'Bog Irish' Slurs", Irish Voice, October 13, 1998
  29. ^ Benson, Marius, "A life more ordinary", Expatica
  30. ^ bohunk. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000
  31. ^ Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
  32. ^ Wilkes, G.A. A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms (Sydney: Fontana/Collins, 1978, p. 62)
  33. ^ Wilkes, ibid., p. 62
  34. ^ "boonga" The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary. Tony Deverson. (Oxford University Press: 2004) Oxford Reference Online.[Accessed 6 May 2006].
  35. ^ Younge, Gary (2002-03-30). Don't blame Uncle Tom. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  36. ^ Green, op. cit. p.154.
  37. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  38. ^ Green, op. cit. p.154.
  39. ^ http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=59
  40. ^ Jordan Robertson, "California jury awards $61 million to two FedEx Ground drivers in harassment lawsuit", Associated Press, June 4, 2006
  41. ^ [2][3]
  42. ^ "The Language of War", on the American Experience/Vietnam Online website; retrieved August 31, 2007
  43. ^ "chee-chee." Webster's [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
  44. ^ [4]Peak of Controversy "a resident of Calgary, wrote to the Minister of Community Development strongly objecting to the name Chinaman's Peak"
  45. ^ [5] Asian American advocates decry parody by TV's O'Donnell Vanessa Hua, San Francisco Chronicle, December 14, 2006
  46. ^ Simpson, "Chinky"
  47. ^ "clog", Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
  48. ^ Vigil, James Diego (1988). Barrio Gangs: Street Life and Identity in Southern California. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292711190. 
  49. ^ Orsman, H. W. (1999). The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558347-7. 
  50. ^ Etymology of Selected Words of Indian Language Origin
  51. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary: coon
  52. ^ Slavery In America
  53. ^ "coonass" at the Encyclopedia of Cajun Culture
  54. ^ Cash W.J. The Mind of the South (Knopf, 1941).
  55. ^ "crow." Webster's [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
  56. ^ Green, op. cit.
  57. ^ Fuller A. Scribbling the Cat: travels with an African soldier (Penguin Books, 2004).
  58. ^ Oxford Advanced Leaner's English-Chinese Dictionary (published in 1987), p. 292.
  59. ^ AskOxford: Search Results
  60. ^ Views The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)
  61. ^ dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dink
  62. ^ "dogan", Barber, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
  63. ^ Ashley W. Doane and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (Eds) White Out: The Continuing Significance of Racism (New York: Routledge,2003), p. 124
  64. ^ Green, Cassell, p. 383.
  65. ^ "Dutch", Webster's [Accessed February 15, 2006].
  66. ^ "eskimo." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 01 Nov. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eskimo>.
  67. ^ Setting the Record Straight: Does "Eskimo" mean "Raw Meat Eater" in Cree?
  68. ^ The Economist, Truth about eSStonia, retrieved 26-10-2007
  69. ^ Share, op. cit. p. 105.
  70. ^ "What's in a name?" [6]
  71. ^ Simpson, "free stater", op. cit.
  72. ^ Grand Dictionnaire (Larousse: 1993) p. 397; "fritz", Webster's; Polish Language Dictionary: http://sjp.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=2558630 .
  73. ^ Dictionary.com [7]
  74. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  75. ^ "gin", Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
  76. ^ Wilkes, op cit., 155-6
  77. ^ "ginzo" The New Oxford American Dictionary, second edition. Ed. Erin McKean. (Oxford University Press: 2005.) <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html? subview=Main&entry=t183.e31685> [Accessed 6 May 2006]
  78. ^ John McCain's racist remark very troubling, Thursday, March 2, 2000, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  79. ^ Interactive Dictionary of Racial Language, Prof. Kim Pearson
  80. ^ a b c d Dictionary.com gook
  81. ^ Yiddishkeit (page two)
  82. ^ Yiddishkeit (page two)
  83. ^ greaseball - Definitions from Dictionary.com
  84. ^ Brazil - Brazzil Magazine - In Brazil, Not All Gringos Are Created Equal
  85. ^ "Mr Gub ... the white man. The word is the diminutive of garbage." Wilkes, op cit., 167
  86. ^ http://www.bigwhiteguy.com/bio.php
  87. ^ Gweilo
  88. ^ Simpson, "gyppo", op. cit.
  89. ^ "hajji" citation from Double-Tongued Dictionary
  90. ^ "haji" definition from Double-Tongued Dictionary
  91. ^ ?. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
  92. ^ Watanabe, Teresa. ""Hapas" find a voice in emerging culture", The Seattle Times, 2006-07-16. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. 
  93. ^ Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival
  94. ^ Madresh, Marjorie (2004-05-28). Founder of 'Hip to be Heeb' magazine speaks to students. The Triangle Online. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
  95. ^ Merriam-Webster Online definition of hebe. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
  96. ^ Simpson, "Hindu", op. cit.
  97. ^ Fuller A. Scribbling the Cat: travels with an African soldier (Penguin books, 2004).
  98. ^ "husky", Ibid. [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
  99. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary
  100. ^ Simpson. "ikey", loc. cit.
  101. ^ Loc cit. "ikeymo"
  102. ^ injun - Definitions from Dictionary.com
  103. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  104. ^ "Jerry," Simpson, op. cit.
  105. ^ Simpson, "jigaboo", op. cit.
  106. ^ "Jim Fish." Ibid. [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
  107. ^ Blake, Aled (2005-08-26). 'If boyo is racist so is Jock. Western Mail and Echo Limited. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
  108. ^ Simpson, "jungle"
  109. ^ "Kaffir", Webster's.
  110. ^ Featherstone, Donald (1993). Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa. UK: Blandford, 85–102. ISBN 0-7137-2256-8. 
  111. ^ Wolarsky, Eric, "Kike", Interactive Dictionary of Racial Language, 2001.
  112. ^ AskOxford: Kraut
  113. ^ Dictionary.com [8]
  114. ^ Allen Quip Provokes Outrage, Apology
  115. ^ "Mick" The Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. (Oxford University Press: 2004) [Accessed 6 May 2006].
  116. ^ [www.miniplug.tv/26-07-2006/la-semana-que-paso-en-entretenimiento-17a23706/ - 78k - www.miniplug.tv]
  117. ^ Simpson. "mock", loc. cit.
  118. ^ Ibid. "mocky".
  119. ^ The Times Online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2239023,00.html
  120. ^ Simpson. "munt". loc. cit.
  121. ^ Michael Frazer, Nasho (Melbourne: Aries Imprint, 1984)
  122. ^ "nig-nog" Webster's
  123. ^ "nig-nog" Oxford English Dictionary
  124. ^ "nigrew", Sebastien's, Accessed 15 Apr. 2008.
  125. ^ "nip", Webster's, Accessed 11 Mar. 2006.
  126. ^ "nitchie", Simpson, op. cit.
  127. ^ Moore, "ocker" op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
  128. ^ "Was Lt. Gov. Steele Pelted With Oreos?", WTOP Radio
  129. ^ AskOxford: Paddy
  130. ^ "pak", Webster's, Accessed 4 April 2006; Simpson. "Paki", loc. cit.
  131. ^ "After the N-word, the P-word", BBC News, June 11, 2007
  132. ^ Racial and Ethnic Identity Formation of Midwestern Asian-American children, Susan Matoba Adler, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=ciec&vol=2&issue=3&year=2001&article=Adler_CIEC_2_3
  133. ^ David Williams, Review of Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages by Mark Abley, The Oxonian Review of Books, Volume 4, Issue 2 (Hilary 2005).
  134. ^ Simpson, "pikey" op. cit.
  135. ^ Ibid. p. 773.
  136. ^ Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman Group UK Limited, 1992, ISBN 0 582 23720 3
  137. ^ Moore, "pommy", op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
  138. ^ Who Are The Bush People? by Sean Gonsalves
  139. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  140. ^ http://www.antibaro.gr/national/xolebas_slabomakedones.htm
  141. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  142. ^ Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
  143. ^ "What do we all have in common?", The Sun Online, January 30, 2007
  144. ^ http://dictionary.reference.com/
  145. ^ Suzan Shown Harjo. "Dirty Word Games", Indian Country Today, 2005-6-17. 
  146. ^ Spears, p. 295.
  147. ^ Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
  148. ^ http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeson
  149. ^ Jarhead by Anthony Swofford
  150. ^ WordNet Search - 3.0
  151. ^ Simpson, "sawney", op. cit.
  152. ^ Dictionary of Australian Slang
  153. ^ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=slanteyed
  154. ^ Moore. "slope", op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006]; Simpson, "slope"; "slopy", op. cit.
  155. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  156. ^ Lit.Org : Novels : Hollie Springwood - Chapter 15 : Writers Workshops, Writing Tips, articles, stories, poetry, authors, interviews, chat, links and more!
  157. ^ Simpson, "sooty." loc. cit.
  158. ^ American Heritage Dictionary
  159. ^ Rescue Me: Sensitivity - TV.com
  160. ^ MSR Productions-Products
  161. ^ Rawson, loc. cit. p. 370.
  162. ^ squaw - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  163. ^ Random House Unabridged Dictionary
  164. ^ Simpson, "taffy", op. cit.
  165. ^ "In Belfast, Joblessness And a Poisonous Mood" by Bernard Wienraub
    New York Times, 2 June 1971
  166. ^ "On Belfast’s Walls, Hatred Rules" by Paul Majendie
    Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November 1986
  167. ^ Simpson, "tar", op. cit.
  168. ^ Green, loc. cit. p. 1185.
  169. ^ Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
  170. ^ Simpson, "tinker", op. cit.
  171. ^ John Akomfrah 1991 A Touch of the Tarbrush (TV Documentary) 1991
  172. ^ Eric Partridge, Dalzell Victor (Eds), The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (London: Taylor and Francis, 2005), p. 1581
  173. ^ Share, op. cit. p. 349.
  174. ^ Wetback
  175. ^ Miller, Joel (2001-03-06). White niggards and the lingo nazis. WorldNetDaily.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
  176. ^ Princton WordNet listing for Whitey
  177. ^ wog. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wog (accessed: November 01, 2007).
  178. ^ wop. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wop (accessed: November 01, 2007)
  179. ^ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/yellow
  180. ^ yank - Definitions from Dictionary.com

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.