LIST OF ETHNIC SLURS

A ''slur'' can be anything from an insinuation or critical remark to an insult. 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 downright insulting manner in the English-speaking world. For the purposes of this list, a ''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 (where applicable) a reference to that term.
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.
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Contents

0-9

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

W

X

Y

Z

See also

Literature

References

External links

0-9

;51st staters : (American English) used for Canadians ^[1]; recently being used for Iraqis.
;5 and 2 / 5 by 2 / 4 by 2 / 3 by 2 : (England) Cockney rhyming slang for a Jew. Originated in the early 1900s.^[2]
;5 and Alive : (Jamaican English) refers to child prostitutes. Was first used in Terry Batchkins "Jamaica: Enslaved Youth", in which it was first recognized.

A

;Abbie / Abe / Abie : a Jewish male. From the proper name ''Abraham''. The Hebrew name for father is "Abba". Originated before the 1950s.^[3]
;ABCD : (Subcontinentals in U.S.) "American-Born Confused Desi" used for American-born South Asians who are confused about their cultural identity. Often used by ABCDs about other ABCDs. 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"^[1]
;Abd: (Arabic Countries) This term, "slave" in Arabic, is used as a slur against Blacks and persons of mixed African descent. ^{[2] [3] [4]}
;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"). From the 1870s until the 1920s, the word ''Ab'' was used instead. 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]
;Adolf / 'Dolf : (U.S. & Commonwealth) Germans, referring to Adolf Hitler.^[5]
;Africoon : (North America) a Black person.^[6]
;Afro-Saxon : (North America) A young white male devotee of African-American pop culture.^[5]
;Ahab : (U.S.) an Arab, from the novelty song "Ahab the Arab" by Ray Stevens; in the Bible, Ahab was the sinful king of Samaria married to the equally wicked Jezebel.^[7]
;Alabama Blue Gums : (U.S.) a black person.^[8][9][10]
;Albino : (U.S. Blacks) whites, also a derogatory term for light skinned blacks used by darker skinned blacks. ^[11] (see colorism)
;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.^[6]
;Alter kacker / alter kocker (Yiddish) / alter kucker / A.K. : (North America) a disparaging term for elderly Jewish people. Although the word is of Yiddish origin (literally meaning ''old shitter''), it has been adopted by non-Jews as a slur against Jews. First used in the early 1900s.^[7]
;Angie : (Quebec English) Anglophones in Canada.^[12]
;Anglo : (U.S.) Any white (northern-western European) person, regardless of whether he or she has English ancestry. This term is most often used by Hispanics and Italians and often is not meant to be offensive.^[8]
;Anglo-pilferer: An Anglo-Australian possibly of convict lineage. Based on the belief that all Anglo-Australians are descended from convicts. Particularly offensive.^[9]
;Ann : 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.^[10]
;Antique Farm Equipment/Outdated Farm Machinery : (U.S) a Black person; slaves were mostly used for farming.^[13][14]
;Ape : (U.S.) a black person.^[11]
;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.^[12]
;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.^[13]
;As dry as a pommy's towel : (Australia) very dry. Pommy=Englishman. Possibly from the perception that Englishmen do not bathe very often, or more likely from the popular belief that Englishmen don't sweat.^[14]
;Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally / Aunt Thomasina : (U.S. Blacks) a black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout", female counterpart of ''Uncle Tom''.^[15]
;Aussie Wuzzie : (Australia) a black person native to New Guinea.^[16]

B

;Banana: (U.S.;Canada) refers to an American Chinese who is yellow (Asian) on the outside and white on the inside.^[15]
;Beaner : (U.S.) term widely regarded as derogatory, that refers to people of Mexican descent or, more broadly, mestizos.^[17][18][19] The term originates from the prevalence of frijoles pintos and other beans in Mexican food.^[20]
: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.)
: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.
;Boche; bosche; bosch : (France; U.S.; UK) a German [from either French ''caboche'' head, or ''Alboche,'' modification of ''Allemand'' German].^[21]
;Bog Irish : a person of common or low class Irish ancestry.^[22][23]
;Bohunk : A person of east-central European descent. Was commonly used toward Ukrainian immigrants during the early 20th century.^[24]
;Boong / boang : (Aus) Australian aboriginal.^[25] Related to the Australian English slang word ''bung'', meaning "dead", "infected", "dysfunctional". Highly offensive. [First used in the 1920s]
;Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie : (New Zealand) a Pacific Islander [alteration of ''boong''].^[26]
;Bounty / Bounty bar : (UK) A derogatory term for a black person with perceived white allegiences: especially a black police officer. A Bounty bar is a chocolate confectionery with a coconut flavoured centre, therefore brown on the outside but white on the inside.^[27]
;Brownie : (U.S.) 'a.' a person of mixed white and black ancestry; a mulatto. 'b.' (U.S. black) a young, brown-skinned person 1940s-1950s^[28]
;Buffie : 'a.' black person.^[29]
:'b.' (U.S. black) a young, brown-skinned person 1940s-1950s^[28]

C

;Camel Jockey : a person of Middle-Eastern descent.^[31]
;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. ^[16][17]
;Charlie : 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 radio code designation for Viet Cong, or VC.^[32]
;Chee-chee : a Eurasian half-caste [probably from Hindi ''chi-chi fie!,'' literally, dirt]^[33]
;Chinaman : (Worldwide English) Chinese person, used in old American west when discrimination against Chinese was common.^[34] 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 generates objections in modern times, especially in the US.
Also used in a cricketing context to refer to a particular type of left-arm bowler, the left-arm equivalent of the right-arm Leg Spin bowler. The term is still used in this non-derogatory sense in television and radio coverage.
;Ching Chong : (U.S. & 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.^[35]
;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.^[36]
;Clog Wog : (AUS) a person of Dutch origin, not always offensive.^[37]
;Coconut: (Pacific Islands) refers to a Pacific Islander who is brown (of island decent) on the outside and white on the inside. (Mexican-American) refers to a Mexican who is brown on the outside and white in the inside, called Coco.
;Cohee : (U.S.) originally (mid-18th century) -- a Scots-Irish settler into the Virginia Piedmont; later (late 18th century) -- a term for backwoodsman; hick, or most severely "poor white trash", especially on the frontier or in the Appalachian area; still later (19th century) -- a self-referential indicating an independent backwoods small farmer in the Virginia/Carolina/Tennessee/Kentucky area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckahoe-Cohee
;Colored : (U.S.) a Black or Black mixed-race person. Now considered a slur, it was highly acceptable in the past. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, for example, continues to use its full name unapologetically.
;Coolie : (North America) unskilled Asian labor, usually Chinese (originally used in 19th-century for Chinese railroad labor). Possibly from Hindi/Telegu ''kuli'', day laborer.^[38] Chinese Coolies have a long history and Chinese are still exploited Coolies. 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 : (AUS, U.S. & U.K) a black person. Possibly from Portuguese ''barracoos,'' a building constructed to hold slaves for sale (1837).[20]
;Coni : (Turkey) an American; or for anyone who acts like an American. The word is the transcription of Johnny and is usually used while referring to U.S. soldiers.^[39]
;Cowboy : (Europe) an American, often used by political cartoonists. (Not offensive to many Americans.)^[40]
;Cracker : (U.S.) poor Southerner, "poor white trash", first used in the 19th century.^[41] By extension, white people in general. (Europe) People with blue eyes and blonde hair. (Southeast Asia) White people (usually White Americans).
;Crow : a black person,^[42] spec. a black woman.
;Cunt-eyed : (U.S.) ''adjective:'' a person with slanted eyes [first used in the 1910s]^[43]
;Curry-muncher : (Africa) a person of East Indian origin.^[44]

D

;Dago: an Italian or person of Italian descent. Also refers to Portuguese or Spaniard.^[45]
;Derka / Durka / Dirka / Derka Derka : a derogatory name for someone of Middle-Eastern descent, derived from a nonsense word spoken by terrorist characters in the satirical comedy film ''.[21]
;Dink: a derogatory racial slur referring to peoples of Asian decent, mainly used by U.S soldiers during the Vietnam War to refer to North Vietnamese soldiers. Examples in popular culture, see - Apocalypse Now, Platoon ^{[46] [47]}.
;Dogan, dogun : (CAN) Irish Catholic [19th century on; origin uncertain: perhaps from ''Dugan,'' an Irish surname].^[48]
;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;^[49] (4) anglophone South African whites, used for Afrikaner^[50]
;Darky : ''noun.'' Used as a disparaging term for a Black person.^[51]
;Dune Coon : (U.S.) A derogatory or pejorative term for any person of middle eastern or South Asian descent.[22]

E

;Egg : (US) A derogatory term for a white person who wants to be Asian.
;Eskimo : (Canada) An offensive descriptive term for the Inuit [23]. (US) The term may or may not be offensive, considering some tribes in Alaska still prefer to be called by that general name.
;Eta : (Japan) Derogatory version of Burakumin. Literally meaning "lower than dirt," or "full of filth," [24] refers to members of the lowest class of the Japanese caste system, holding occupations such as butchers, leather workers, and other jobs considered to be "unclean." [25]

F

;Fenian : (Northern Ireland & 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.^[52]
;Flip : (United States) A derogatory term for Filipinos.^[53]
;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.^[54]
;Fritz : (UK, France, Hungary ("fricc"), Poland [''Fryc''], Russia [''фриц''] ) a German [from ''Friedrich'' (Frederick)].^[55]
;Frog : (Canada UK US) A French person. Comes from the French recipe for eating frogs' legs (see comparable French term ''). Also used in Canada to refer to both the French and French Canadians, more specifically to people from Quebec.^[56]

G

;Gable : a black person.^[29]
;Gin : (AUS) an Aboriginal woman.^[58]
;Ginzo : (U.S.) an Italian-American.^[59]
;Gollywogg : (UK) A black person, from a once popular children's doll.
;Gook : (U.S. military slang) an Asian person, especially an enemy (e.g. Koreans or Vietnamese during the Korean and Vietnam wars). By extension, any Asian person. Derived from the Korean words “hanguk” and “miguk”. Guk is from the Chinese, Guo, Kingdom or Country. “Hanguk” refers to Korea^[28] and “miguk” is the common word for the United States.^[29] American troops thought "miguk" sounded like "me gook" (i.e. "I am a gook"). The word persisted during the Vietnam War, perhaps also because the Vietnamese people have a similar word “quốc”, meaning "country". "Gook" was also used by white soldiers in Africa to designate enemy insurgents.^[44]
;Goy (גוי) : (Jews) a non-Jew (Gentile)^[61]or someone who does not practice Judaism; The Hebrew and Yiddish word goy (plural: גוים, goyim) means "nation" or "people" (and not "cattle", as is sometimes asserted). While the word is used over 550 times in the Hebrew Bible referring to both the Israelites and non-Israelites, it can be used as an insult.
;Goyisher kopf : (Jews) This exclamation is said by Jews when they say or do something stupid (literally, "gentile-head").^[62]
;Greaseball: (US) a person of Italian descent or Hispanic descent.^[63]
;Green Nigger : (USA) An Irish person, mainly in US or Australian cities with large Irish populations. Used to denote the Irish, who many hold in the same regard as blacks.^[64]
;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^[65].
;Gubba : (AUS) Aboriginal (Koori) term for white people^[66] - derived from Governor / Gubbanah
;Guido : (US) A person of Italian descent.
;Guinea : (U.S.) someone of Italian descent. (Derives from "Guinea Negro", was called because of the belief that Italians who had dark complexions were African)^[67]
;Gussic, Gu-suk : (S.W.Alaskan, Yup'ik) Traditional negative term for a white person or person from the white culture used primarily by Yup'ik speaking natives in southwest Alaska, but sometimes self-applied by local whites. May be derived from Russian K'Zak/Cossack. [33]
;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).[34] Once a mark of xenophobia, the word is now in general, informal use [35] but still considered derogatory.
;Gyppo, gippo, gypo, gyppie, gyppy, gipp : (UK) 'a.' A Gypsy (see below). 'b.' (UK and Australian military) Egyptians,^[68] sometimes used affectionately, but "bloody Gyppo" was a term of abuse.

H

;Haole : (US, Hawaiian) A non-native, used by Hawaiians to describe whites and other non-islanders.^[69]
;Hapa : (US) Of mixed Asian race. Like with the slur nigga Asians of mixed ancestry are using this word to destigmatize the term.^[70] It still can be regarded as a racial slur, as being called colored.
;'Heeb', 'Hebe': (U.S.) offensive term for a Jewish person, derived from the word "Hebrew".^[71][72]
;Hindoo : (AUS) 19th century, Hindu. Often not offensive.^[73] In Canada, this in either spelling is heavily offensive when used in reference to Canadian Sikhs.
;Honger : A derogative term for a person from Hong Kong; a person who acculturates Hong Kong's lifestyle and manner.
;Honky also spelled "honkey" or "honkie" : (1) (U.S. blacks) 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.^[74]
(2) Also used in reference to Hongkongers, mostly by people from Hong Kong.
;Husky : an Eskimo of Labrador and northeastern Canada or his language — sometimes taken to be offensive [probably by shortening & alteration from ''Eskimo''] Sometimes used in conjunction with Skimo.^[75]
;Hun : (U.S. and U.K.) A derogatory term for Germans, especially German soldiers; popular during World War I. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Hun Also an offensive term for a Protestant
;Hymie : (US) A Jew, from the Hebrew Chaim. Uttered by then-presidential candidate Jesse Jackson in 1984 while on a visit to Brooklyn.

I

;Ikey / ike iky : a Jew [from ''Isaac'']^[76]
;Ikey-mo / ikeymo : a Jew [from ''Isaac'' and ''Moses'']^[77]
;Inkface : a black person.^[29]

J

;Jack Pine Savage : Derogatory term for Native Americans, particularly in the Northern United States and Canada, equating Native Americans to uncivilized and dangerous people living within the thick pine forests of the region.
;Jap : An offensive term for a Japanese person.
;Jerry : (Commonwealth, especially during World War II) 'a.' a German national. 'b.' a German soldier [Probably an alteration of ''German''].^[79] Origin of Jerry can.
;Jews of the East : Southeast Asian expression for overseas Chinese people.
;Jigaboo, jiggabo, jijjiboo, zigabo, jig, jigg, jiggy, jigga, jigger : (U.S. & UK) a black person (JB) with stereotypical Black features (dark skin, wide nose, big lips, etc.).^[80]
;Jim Fish : (South Africa) a Black person^[81]
;Jock, jocky, jockie : (UK) A Scottish person, dialect form of personal name John. Occasionally used by the English as an insult.^[82]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.
Also used in the US to refer to an athlete (see Jock (subculture). In addition, the term "shock jock" refers to a disc jockey known for controversial comments (examples include Don Imus and Howard Stern).
;Jungle bunny : (U.S. & UK) a Black person.^[83]

K

;Kaffir, kaffer, kaffir, kafir, kaffre : (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.)^[84][85] See also Kaffir (Historical usage in southern Africa)
; Kanake (from ''Kanaka,'' New Caledonian for Human): (Germany) Derogatory German term for immigrants and foreigners predominantly of Turkish descent, but also Kurdish or Arab ancestry.
Kanak Sprak is a term used for the manner of speech used among Turks in modern Germany. Much like the terms nigger or queer in English, Kanake has been co-opted by some Turks and used proudly as a term of self-identification.
;Kike ''or'' kyke : (U.S.) a Jew. From ''kikel'', Yiddish for "circle". Immigrant Jews signed legal documents with an "O" (similar to an "X").^[86]
;Kraut (from Sauerkraut) : (North America & Commonwealth) Derogatory U.S. and British term for a German,^[87] 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.^[88]
;Lugan : (US) A Lithuanian Person. Possible Chicago origin. ^[89]

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. [38]
;Mick, Mickey, Mickey Finn : 'a.' (Britain, Commonwealth & U.S.) an Irish person or a person of Irish descent. 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''].^[90]
;Mock'' / ''moch : (U.S.) a Jew [first used in the 1960s as an abbreviated form of ''mocky'' (qv)]^[91]
;Mocky / moky / moxy / mockey / mockie / mocky : (U.S.) a Jew [first used in the 1930s]^[92]
;Mongolian : (Australia) ''obsolete:'' a Chinese immigrant^[93]
;Monkey : (UK) a black person.^[94] Also used by white people in Southeast Asia to describe local people.
;Moolie: (U.S.) a black person. Means the same as ''nigger''. Used by Italian-Americans, moolie is short for ''Mulignane'' (''moolinyan''). Comes from the word ''melanzane'', which means "''eggplant''" in Neapolitan dialect.^[95]
;Moon Cricket: (US) a black person.^[96]
;Mosshead : a black person.^[29]
;Munt : (among whites in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia) a black person. Derives from ''muntu,'' the singular of Bantu^[98]

N

;Ned: (Scotland) A Scottish term for the often uneducated and often aggressive teenagers of an emergant lower class, found throughout Britain (see Chav). The name is thought to derive from 'Edward', as in teddy boy. It is in no way an acronym for "non-educated delinquent" as often thought, which is in any case ungrammatical.
;Niglet : (US) a black person. Ethan Suplee used that term in American History X
;Nelly : (Aus) a person of very slow wit
;Nig-nog : (UK) a black person.^[99] but beware - note alternative original mildly derogatory meaning in the UK: "a novice; a foolish or naive person" ^[100]
;Nigger / Niger / nig / nigor / nigra / nigre (Caribbean) / nigar / niggor / niggur / nigga / niggah / niggar / nigguh / nuh / nigga fagget : (U.S., UK) (1) a black person. Can also generally be used toward anyone with brown or darker skin, such as an Indian. From the word ''negro,'' which means the color black in several languages. Diminutive appellations include "Nigg", "Nigz" and "'Groid" (from "negroid"). The terms "Nigga" and "Niggaz" (plural) are frequently used between African-Americans and between whites without the negative associations of "Nigger." Use of the word is often perceived as extremely offensive if used by a non-black in any context. In recent times the female term Negress has been used satirically to refer to the recent prevalence of formulaic tokenism in US-made TV dramas. For example: "Every cop show needs one Blond woman who is not dumb, one Negress-with-issues, one quirky but lovable lab nerd and so on..."
: (2) A member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons.
;Niggaracci : (US) a rich black person, like rich black rappers.
;Nigra / negra / niggra / nigrah / nigruh : (U.S.) offensive for a black person [first used in the early 1900s]^[101]
;Nip : (U.S.) Highly derogatory term for someone of Japanese descent (shortened version of ''Nipponese'', from Japanese name for Japan, ''Nippon'')^[102]
;Nitchie, neche, neechee, neejee, nichi, nichiwa, nidge, nitchee, nitchy : (CAN) a North American Indian [From the Algonquian word for "friend"].^[103]

O

;Ocker : (AUS & NZ) Uncultivated Australian.^[104] Also considered authentic and unaffected.
;Oreo : (USA) Term used to describe African Americans that take more interest in White culture than Black culture. Popular term for it: ''"Black on the outside, white on the inside."''

P

;Paddy: (Primarily UK) an Irishman.^[105]
; / Pakki: (Primarily UK and Canada, sometimes US and India) a Pakistani or other South Asian. Within the UK, the term originates in Northern England, where large number of Pakistanis arrived in the 1950s and 1960s, and where they remain in large numbers in cities such as Bradford and Leeds; a high percentage remain non-assimilated into British life. It is usually considered offensive when used by a non-South Asian in the UK,^{[106] [107]} Referring to someone from India or Afghanistan as a Paki/Pakki is also extremely offensive to the such person.
;Palesimian : (US conservatives) A Palestinian. [40]
;Payo : (Spain; U.S.) a non-Gypsy.^[108]
;Pickaninny : (U.S.) a black child. "Pickney" in Jamaica has the same meaning but is considered non-derogatory.
;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].^[109]
;Pendy : (Sheffield, United Kingdom) ''adjective:'' term for a person of English - Jewish heritage who is particularly "book smart"; nerdy.
;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").^[110] (See also "Chicano")
;Polack : a Pole or a person of Polish origin,Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman Group UK Limited, 1992, ISBN 0 582 23720 3 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 "''P''risoner of ''M''other ''E''ngland", but it probably derives from ''pomegranate,'' rhyming slang for "immigrant,^[111] 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 in the 1950s. 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.
;Powder burn : a black person.^[29]

Q

;Quashie : a black person.^[29] From the West African name ''Kwazi'', often given to a child born on a Sunday ^[114]

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. "What do we all have in common?", ''The Sun Online'', January 30, 2007
;Roundeye : (English speaking Asians) a white or non-Asian person.^[115]
;river cricket : a slur used for the very darkest of the African Americans. It is believed to stem from "fishun fo crawdads in da rivah" this is only reserved for the blackest of the black.
; Russki, Russkie : disparaging for "Russian"^[116] (actually, these are transliterations of the Russian "Русский" for "Russian")

S

;Sand Nigger : (U.S.) A derogatory or pejorative term for any person of middle eastern or South Asian descent.^[117]
;Sawney : (England, archaic) - A Scottish person, local variant of ''Sandy,'' short for "Alexander".^[118]
;Seppo : (Australian) An American. (Cockney rhyming slang: Septic tank — Yank)^[119]
;Skip : (AUS) a colloquial term for Australians of Northern European (ie, Anglo, Celtic, Dutch, German or Scandinavian) descent. Among people of Mediterranean decent, used as a counter to "wog", and was used to refer to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern people. [From the TV show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo].^[120]
;Sheeney: vulgar term of abuse, "a Jew," 1816, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Rus. zhid, Pol., Czech zid "a Jew." Used before c.1870 by Jews and Gentiles without intent of insult.
;Slave : slur against people of slavic origins
;Slope, slopehead, slopy, slopey : (U.S. & Aus) a person of Asian (in Australia, especially Vietnamese; in America, especially Chinese) descent.^[121]
;Smoked Irish / smoked Irishman : (U.S.) 19th century term for Blacks (intended to insult both Blacks and Irish).^[29]
;Snowback : (U.S.) A Canadian immigrant.^[123] (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.)
;Snow Nigger : (U.S.) A Russian or other snow-dwelling non-American. May also refer to Eskimos (Inuit or Yupik).
;Sooty : a black person [originated in the U.S. in the 1950s]^[124]
;Spade : A black person.^[125] recorded since 1928 (OED), from the playing cards suit.
;Spaghetti Bender: (North America and UK) an Italian^[126]
;Spaghetti Nigger: (North America) an Italian^[127][128]
;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", but common belief is that it is an abbreviation of "Hispanic" 'b.' the Spanish language.^[129]
;Spook : (U.S. whites) a black person (used in the movies ''Taxi Driver'' and ''Back to the Future''^[130]. Its ambiguity – another meaning being a spectre – is an essential part of the plot of Philip Roth's novel ''The Human Stain'')
;Squaw : (U.S. & CAN) Often offensive term for female Native American.^[131] The equivalent derisive for a male is "a brave".

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'').^[132] 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.
;Tar baby : (UK; U.S.; and N.Z.) a black child.^[133] See Tar baby.
;Teapot : (British) A black person. [1800s]^[134]
;Thicklips : a black person.^[29] See Shakespeare's "Othello."
;Timber-nigger / Timber Nigger : A derogatory term for Native Americans. Derived from the fact some Native American tribes inhabited wooded, or timbered, areas.
;Tinker / tynekere / tinkere / tynkere, -are / tynker / tenker / tinkar / tyncar / tinkard / tynkard / tincker
:'a.' (Britain & 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]^[136]
:'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.
;Towel head, also towelhead: a person of Arab descent, esp. used by U.S. soldiers during the Gulf War, as in 1999 film Three Kings^[137][138]
;Tuckahoe : (U.S.) earliest - a member of the aristocratic and politically powerful class of plantation owners in tidewater Virginia in the mid-18th century; later - anyone from low-country Virginia who was lazy, aristocratic, ineffectual, prideful, effete, etc.; still later (19th century) - a self-referential used by anyone whose cultural heritage included wealth, slave-holding, and a tidewater Virginia/Carolina lineage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckahoe-Cohee
;Twinkie : (U.S.) An East Asian assimilated into white culture, see Banana.

W

;Wab: (US, California) A person of hispanic descent. Originated in the 2000s
;Welcher: (UK and US) One who dishonors his obligation to pay debts or wagers.^[139] Offensive because it implies that is characteristic of the Welsh people.^[140][141]
;West Briton / Westbrit : (Ireland) is for an Irish person who has sympathies toward Britain, or who imitates the English.^[142]
; Wetback : (US) Used to describe Mexican illegal immigrants, who allegedly entered the country by swimming the Rio Grande.^[143]
;Whash: (US, California) A white person. Word oririginates from the term 'wh'ite tr'ash'. Originated in the 2000s
;White Nigger / Wigger / Whigger : (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.^[144] Also used to describe white youth that imitate urban black youth by means of clothing style, mannerisms, and slang speech. Also used by radical Quebecois 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.^[145]
;Wog : (Australia) Used to describe Australians of Southern European and or Balkan European descent, particularily Italians and Greeks, though it mostly considered affectionate. Can sometimes refer to people of Middle Eastern and or North African origins.
;Wop : (North America) A racial term for anyone of Italian descent. It is debated whether the word originated from an acronym for "With Out Papers", or derived from the Italian word "guappo", meaning ''bad man.

X

Y

;Yankee : (U.S.) denotes someone from the northern states; if used by someone from the southern states the term is meant to be derogatory. Yank (British Commonwealth). Originally used in the 18th century as a term of contempt and then as a general term for a native of New England. The word comes from the Dutch language, probably from ''Jan Kees'' (John Cornelis, a nickname for Dutchmen, not John Cheese as often misunderstood, cheese in Dutch is 'kaas').^[146] A Major League Baseball team uses this term, the New York Yankees
:
(International outside of U.S.) a person from the United States; the term may be meant as an insult (e.g., "Yankee go home!").

Z

;Zipperhead : Derogatory term for Vietnamese. [42]

See also

★ Other lists

★
★ List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity

★
★ List of ethnic group names used as insults

★
★ List of regional nicknames

★
★ List of religious slurs

★ Fresh off the boat, a derogatory term for people of foreign nationality, who have arrived in a host nation as tourists, immigrants, students, or most commonly, as work permit applicants.

★ Hate speech

★ Term of disparagement

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)

References

1. http://gyral.blackshell.com/names.html
2. Richard A. Spears, ''Slang and Euphemism,'' (2001) p. 130
3. Spears, loc. cit. p. 1.
4. Bruce Moore (editor), ''The Australian Oxford Dictionary,'' (2004) p. 3.
5. Speers, loc. cit. p.4.
6. Speers, loc. cit. pg. 6.
7. Green, loc. cit. p. 19.
8. Webster.com/dictionary/anglo
9. Macquarie Dictionary (3rd ed)
10. Hugh Rawson, ''Wicked Words,'' (1989) p. 19.
11. Spears, loc. cit. p. 10.; also, ''Zoo Ape'' or ''Jungle Ape''
12. Green, loc. cit. p. 25.
13. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/falklands/story/0,11707,657850,00.html Guardian Report: ''A new Britain, a new kind of newspaper'' February 25 2002
14. Spears, loc. cit. p. 12.
15. Green, loc. cit. p. 36.
16. Spears, loc. cit. p. 14.
17. ''The Mouth of Mencia'', from ''The Washington Post'', September 28, 2005
18. ''San Diego's top Latino cop retires'', from ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'', September 1, 2005
19. ''Pedro deflects the barbs; Racist comments don't faze Sox ace'', from ''The Boston Herald'', September 14, 2000
20. ''You are what you eat ... arguably: John Sutherland On national nicknames'' from ''The Guardian (UK)'', July 31, 2000
21. ''Dictionnaire,'' p. 103; "boche", ''Webster's''.
22. "Costello Slammed for 'Bog Irish' Slurs", ''Irish Voice,'' October 13, 1998
23. Benson, Marius, "A life more ordinary", ''Expatica''
24. [http://www.bartelby.com/61/5/B0370500.html
25. Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
26. "boonga" ''The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary''. Tony Deverson. (Oxford University Press: 2004) Oxford Reference Online.[Accessed 6 May 2006].
27. ''Racial Slur Database''
28. Green, op. cit. p.154.
29. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
30. Green, op. cit. p.154.
31. Jordan Robertson, "California jury awards million to two FedEx Ground drivers in harassment lawsuit", Associated Press, June 4, 2006
32. "The Language of War", on the ''American Experience''/Vietnam Online website; retrieved August 31, 2007
33. "chee-chee." Webster's [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
34. [18]Peak of Controversy "a resident of Calgary, wrote to the Minister of Community Development strongly objecting to the name Chinaman's Peak"
35. [19] Asian American advocates decry parody by TV's O'Donnell Vanessa Hua, San Francisco Chronicle, December 14, 2006

36. Simpson, "Chinky"
37. "clog", Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
38. http://www.wmich.edu/dialogues/themes/indianwords.htm
39. http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2007/06/04/dunya/dun03.html
40. www.opinionjournal.com
41. Cash W.J. ''The Mind of the South'' (Knopf, 1941).
42. "crow." ''Webster's'' [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
43. Green, op. cit.
44. Fuller A. ''Scribbling the Cat: travels with an African soldier'' (Penguin Books, 2004).
45. Oxford Advanced Leaner's English-Chinese Dictionary (published in 1987), p. 292.
46. http://imdb.com/title/tt0078788/quotes
47. http://imdb.com/title/tt0091763/quotes
48. "dogan", Barber, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
49. Green, ''Cassell,'' p. 383.
50. "Dutch", ''Webster's'' [Accessed February 15, 2006].
51. Oxford English Online Dictionary. http://www.askoxford.com/results/?view=dict&freesearch=darky&branch=13842570&textsearchtype=exact
52. Share, op. cit. p. 105.
53. "What's in a name?" [26]
54. Simpson, "free stater", op. cit.
55. ''Grand Dictionnaire'' (Larousse: 1993) p. 397; "fritz", ''Webster's''; Polish Language Dictionary: http://sjp.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=2558630 .
56. Dictionary.com [27]
57. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
58. "gin", Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006].
59. "ginzo" ''The New Oxford American Dictionary,'' second edition. Ed. Erin McKean. (Oxford University Press: 2005.) subview=Main&entry=t183.e31685> [Accessed 6 May 2006]
60. Fuller A. ''Scribbling the Cat: travels with an African soldier'' (Penguin Books, 2004).
61. [30]
62. [31]
63. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/greaseball
64. ''Racial Slur Database''
65. [32]
66. "gubba", Moore, op. cit. [Accessed 7 May 2006.]
67. "Guinea", op. cit. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2006].
68. Simpson, "gyppo", op. cit.
69. ?
70. "Hapas" find a voice in emerging culture Teresa Watanabe
71. Founder of 'Hip to be Heeb' magazine speaks to students
72. Merriam-Webster Online definition of ''hebe''
73. Simpson, "Hindu", op. cit.
74. Fuller A. ''Scribbling the Cat: travels with an African soldier'' (Penguin books, 2004).
75. "husky", Ibid. [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
76. Simpson. "ikey", loc. cit.
77. Loc cit. "ikeymo"
78. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
79. ”Jerry,” Simpson, op. cit.
80. Simpson, "jigaboo", op. cit.
81. "Jim Fish." Ibid. [Accessed 12 Mar. 2006].
82. 'If boyo is racist so is Jock
83. Simpson, "jungle"
84. "Kaffir", ''Webster's''.
85. Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa, , Donald, Featherstone, Blandford, , ISBN 0-7137-2256-8
86. Wolarsky, Eric, "Kike", ''Interactive Dictionary of Racial Language'', 2001.
87. http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/kraut?view=uk
88. Dictionary.com [36]
89. [37]
90. "Mick" ''The Concise Oxford English Dictionary''. Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. (Oxford University Press: 2004) [Accessed 6 May 2006].
91. Simpson. "mock", loc. cit.
92. Ibid. "mocky".
93. Ibid. "Mongolian".
94. The Times Online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2239023,00.html
95. http://www.nukeisrael.com/slurs2.htm
96. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moon+cricket
97. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
98. Simpson. "munt". loc. cit.
99. "nig-nog" ''Webster's''
100. "nig-nog" ''Oxford English Dictionary''
101. Simpson. "nigra", loc. cit.
102. "nip", ''Webster's,'' Accessed 11 Mar. 2006.
103. "nitchie", Simpson, op. cit.
104. Moore, "ocker" op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
105. [39]
106. "pak", ''Webster's,'' Accessed 4 April 2006; Simpson. "Paki", loc. cit.
107. "After the N-word, the P-word", ''BBC News'', June 11, 2007
108. "payo", ''Collins,'' p. 739.
109. Simpson, "pikey" op. cit.
110. Ibid. p. 773.
111. Moore, "pommy", op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
112. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
113. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
114. Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
115. Spears, p. 295.
116. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006, The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
117. http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=21&theType=AA
118. Simpson, "sawney", op. cit.
119. http://www.australiatravelsearch.com.au/trc/slang.html
120. Moore, "skip", op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006].
121. Moore. "slope", op. cit. [Accessed 6 May 2006]; Simpson, "slope"; "slopy", op. cit.
122. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
123. http://www.lit.org/view/10208
124. Simpson, "sooty." loc.
cit.
125. American Heritage Dictionary
126. http://www.tv.com/rescue-me/sensitivity/episode/439646/summary.html
127. http://www.msrproductions.com/products.asp?id=13
128. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709277/posts
129. Rawson, loc. cit. p. 370.
130. IMDB – Memorable Quotes from Back to the Future (1985) [Accessed 10 May 2006].
131. [41]
132. Simpson, "taffy", op. cit.
133. Simpson, "tar", op. cit.
134. Green, loc. cit. p. 1185.
135. Spears, op. cit. p. 118.
136. Simpson, "tinker", op. cit.
137. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=towelhead
138. http://imdb.com/title/tt0120188/quotes
139. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Welcher&r=66
140. http://www.wordorigins.org
141. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=welch&searchmode=none
142. Share, op. cit. p. 349.
143. http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/wetback.htm
144. White niggards and the lingo nazis
145. Princton WordNet listing for Whitey
146. Barnhart, R.K., ed. ''The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, first edition'' (Harper Collins, 1995).

External links

★ world insults and insulting quotes from around the globe

★ list of ethnic slurs used in the English-speaking world