Contemporary Slurs

Term	Contextual note	Time/Region	References
abeed/s abid/s	Arabic word meaning “servant” or “slave” used as a racial slur towards people of African heritage, dating back to the Indian Ocean slave trade.	Middle East, North Africa	The Node – Arabic Speakers on Twitter Campaign to Make ‘Abeed’ the New @N-Word’
Ali Baba	Historically used to refer to a lucky person. In the US military, a racial slur for an Iraqi (suspected of criminal activity).	USA, Iraq	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
aliens illegal aliens	USA legal terminology for immigrants. Used by LOCSH. Considered dehumanising by many.	USA
Arabian	“Arabic” might be more appropriate.	Middle East
armo	Derogatory term for Armenian and Armenian-American people in the USA.	USA, Armenia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
aseng	Derogatory term for non-Indonesian people, especially Chinese and Chinese-Indonesian people.	Indonesia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
BME Black and minority ethnic BAME Black, Asian, and minority ethnic BIPOC Black, Indigenous,and People of Colour POC People of colour non-white	Contested vocabularies. These acronyms are homogenising, and should not be used when you are exclusively referring to Black populations i.e. institutions that responded to Black Lives Matter by releasing statistics that they had x percentage of “BME employees”, obscuring the fact that only a fractional percentage of them (if any) were Black.	UK, USA, Black history	The National Archives - BAME Finding Aid BBC - ‘Don’t Call me BAME’ Natalie Morris – The BAME debate
banana	Derogatory term for East Asians in the USA meaning “yellow on the outside, white on the inside”		Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
beaner	Derogatory slang for people of Mexican descent	USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
Blasian Blindian	Meaning mixed Black and Asian, or Black and Indian. Usually not derogatory.
Boat people	Derogatory term for political refugees		https://www.linguisticanthropology.org/blog/2019/09/23/respecting-identity-amazigh-versus-berber/
bog trotter/s bog-trotter/s bog	Derogatory slang for Irish people, especially those of lower-class Irish ancestry	Ireland, USA, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
bohunk/s hunky	Derogatory slang in the USA to reference lower-class immigrants of Central, Eastern, or Southeastern European descent.	USA, Eastern Europe, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
bong	Derogatory term for Bengali people in India	India, Bangladesh	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
boogie/s boogie woogie boogie man	Derogatory slang for Black people	Black history	Owl apps – List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity
bougnoule (French) sandnigger/s sand nigger/s sand-nigger/s camelfucker/s camel-fucker/s camel fucker/s camel jockey/s dune coon/s raghead/s wog/s	Derogatory terms for a person of Arab or North African descent.	North Africa, Europe, USA, Middle East	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
bosche boche	A derogatory term for a German. “Boche” originates from the French slang alboche, derived from two words allemand (German) and caboche (pate, head).	Europe, Germany	NLS – First World War Official Photographs
brownie/s	Pejorative for brown-skinned people, popular in the USA, popular in the 1940s - 1950s.	1940s-, USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
buckra backra	Gullah language word meaning “white trash”.		Racial Slur Database
buddhahead/s buddahead/s	Pejorative for people of Asian descent, also used by mainland Japanese people to refer to Japanese Americans born in Hawaiʻi since WWII.	Hawaiʻi, Japan, WWII, Asian American history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
cabbage eater cabbage	Derogatory slang for German or Russian people	Europe, Germany, Russia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
carcamano	Used in Brazil in the early 20th century to describe Italian immigrants	Brazil, Italy, 1900-	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
ching chong chinaman China man	Derogatory slang for East Asian people – mocking the language of or a person of perceived Chinese descent. For example, the phrase “ching chong chinaman” was used by David Walliams in UK TV series Little Britain.	UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
cholo/s	In some parts of Latin America, “cholo” is an offensive term for a man of Indigenous or partly Indigenous ancestry. In modern usage, it has various meanings and is not always negative. “Cholo” was also used by Chilean officers to refer to Peruvians during the War of the Pacific (1879-1883).	Latin America, Chile	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Wikipedia - Cholo Owl apps – List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity
chotara/s machotara wachotara kyotara suriama	Kiswahili term meaning “half-caste”, most often used to describe people of mixed Black and Asian and/or Arab heritage. Historically it has been derogatory, although many people from this community self-identify as “chotara” and even “half caste” today. The equivalent term “kyotara” is more common in Uganda. “Suriama” literally means “child of concubine” and was used to denigrate people of mixed Arab heritage.	Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda	Carissa Chew
chukhna	Derogatory Russian  in term for Finnic people	Russia, Finland, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
churka	Russian racial slur for Central Asians and people of Caucasus	Russia, Caucasus, Asia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
ciapaty ciapak	Polish racial slur for Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Caucasian people. Derived from “chapati” (food).		Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
coconut	Used to suggest Hispanic/Latino/South Asian/South East Asian people are “brown on the outside, white on the inside”	USA, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
cracker	Derogatory term for white people, especially working-class Appalachian and Southern people in the USA. First used in the nineteenth century.	1800-, USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
crucco	Derogatory Italian word for German people, dating back to WWI	Italy, Germany, Europe, WWI, 1914-	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
curry muncher	Derogatory term for South Asians	UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
dago dego	Derogatory term for Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese people used in the UK and USA	UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Portugal	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
descent	Not necessarily harmful, but “nationality” might be preferred. For example, do not assume that “Scottish” means “white”.		Tropenmuseum – Words Matter
dink	Pejorative term for Southeast Asians used in the USA, particularly towards Vietnamese and Vietnamese American people.	USA, Vietnam, Southeast Asia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
dogun	Derogatory term used in Canada to refer to Irish Catholics. Has its origins in the nineteenth century.	1800-, Canada, Ireland, Catholicism
eight ball	Derogatory term for Black people, referring to the “black ball” in pool.	Black history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
eyetie	Derogatory term for Italians, popularised after WWII.	Italy, Europe, WWII, 1939-
fenian	Reference to Irish Catholics.	Ireland, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
flip	Racial slur used against Filipinos.	Philippines, Asian American history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
fritz fricc frycc fricis	Derogatory slang for Germans	Germany, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
frog froggy frog eater	Pejorative for French people	France, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gabacho	Derogatory Spanish term for French people	Spain, France, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gaijin	Japanese term for non-Japanese people		Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gammon	Contemporary slang insult in the UK referring to white people, especially older white men who support the political right.	2012-, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Wikipedia – Gammon (insult)
godon	French pejorative for English people	France, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gook/s gook-eye gooky	Pejorative for East Asians used in the USA. Dates back to 1920, especially used for enemy soldiers.	USA, 1920-, Asian American history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
greaseball/s greaser/s	Derogatory term used in the Southwestern USA to refer to Hispanic and Mediterranean/ Southern European people. It has taken on less derogatory connotations since the 1950s.	USA, Hispanic history, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gringo	Spanish word for English speakers, more often used in Latin America	Latin America	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gub gubba	Aboriginal term for white people in Australia	Australia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
guiri	Spanish term for non-Spaniards.	Spain	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
guido guidette	Term used in the USA to refer to Italian Americans as a working class stereotype for Italian Americans.	USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
guinea ginzo guinea negro	Derogatory term for Italian people, likely deriving from the term “Guinea negro”. Dates back to World War Two.	Italy, Europe, WWII, Guinea	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gusano	Term used in Cuba for people fleeing the Cuban Revolution	Cuba	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gweilo gwailo kwai lo	Term used for white men in Southern mainland China and Hong Kong. Loosely translated as “foreign devil”’.  Considered xenophobic.	China, Hong Kong	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
gwer	North African term for white people		Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
hajii hadji haji	Term used in the USA military for Iraqis, Arabs, Afghans, or Middle Eastern and South Asian people		Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
Hispanic Americans (LCSH)		USA	Cataloging Lab - Problem LCSH
inyenzi inzoka	During the Rwandan genocide, the dehumanising terms “inzoka” meaning “snakes” and “inyenzi” meaning “cockroach” was used to refer to the Tutsi people, implying they were “as hard to kill as cockroaches”.	Rwanda	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
Illegal immigration (LCSH)	Undocumented immigration.	USA	Cataloging Lab - Problem LCSH
kutcha butcha chee-chee chee chee chi-chi chi chi	“Kutcha butcha” is a Hindi phrase that means “half baked bread”, which, along with “chee chee”, is a slur towards people of mixed Indian and European ancestry.	South Asia, mixed race history
Madrasi Madrassi	Outdated exonym for people of South India (named for the city of Madras, modern-day Chennai), used as a regional slur against people from southern India.	South Asia, India	Owl apps – List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity
mambet	In Russia, a derogatory term to refer to the people of Central Asian descent or the people of other minority republics located within Russia, who are thought to be uneducated, have limited Russian language skills, etc.	Russia	Kadir O.
mamluk/e mameluke mamluq mamaluke marmeluke mameluke	Arabic word for “slave” referring to non-Arab but ethnically diverse groups of enslaved people (mostly Turkic, Caucasian, Eastern and South-eastern European), some of whom exercised significant influence as soldiers in the Muslim world.		Wikipedia - Mamluk
muladi/s Muladies (Spanish) Muladí (Arabic) muwallad (Arabic) muwalladun (Arabic) muwalladeen (Arabic) muladíes (Spanish)	Derogatory terms for mixed-race people, especially a descendant of an Arab and non-Arab parent.		Art & Popular Culture - Muladi
roots	Often tied to feelings of displacement or loss, especially associated with diasporic communities. To question someone’s roots presupposes that they do not belong or that their “roots” are the sole or predominant factor for their identity.		Tropenmuseum – Words Matter
hike	USA term for Italian immigrants	USA, Italy	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
hillbilly hillbillies hick redneck	USA classist term for an “unsophisticated person”, typically white. Originally associated with the remote regions of the Appalachians and other mountainous regions.	USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Cambridge dictionary - hillbilly
honky honkey                          honkie	Used by African Americans in the USA to refer to white people.	USA, 1946-	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
hun/s	The Huns were a nomadic people originating from Central Asia who invaded Eastern Europe and Caucasia, who were typically portrayed as unattractive and immoral. The Hunnic rule was not continuous between 1st-7th CE. The Xiong-nu Steppe Confederation collapsed around the 1st century CE. Huns of Attila began their assault on Europe in the 4th century CE. The term “Hun” was later used for the Germans in British propaganda in the First World War. The term is also a reference to Queen Elizabeth II’s heritage as she has German ancestry and is the head of state and therefore the head of the Protestant Church of England. “Hun” is also an offensive term for a Protestant in Northern Ireland or historically a member of the British military in Ireland i.e. “Britannia’s huns”	UK, Ireland, Germany, Europe	Scottish Government - Sectarianism Terms Kadir O.
japie yarpie	“Japie” is a South African male first name, sometimes used as an ethnic slur for Afrikaners. Derived from “plaasjabie”, meaning “farm boy”.	South Africa	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Wikipedia - Japie
jerry	Derogatory term for Germans, especially soldiers. Used in the World Wars.	Europe, Germany, WWI-	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
jock jocky jockie neanderthal schemie sweaty sock weegie	Terms referring to Scottish people, although their derogatory connotation is debated. “Jock” was slang for a Scottish soldier or sailor, dating back to the 18th century. “Schemie” is Scottish (classist) slang for a person who lives on a a social housing development, typically seen as disadvantaged or disreputable.	Scotland, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
kalar	Burmese term for Muslim citizens who are dark-skinned	Burma, South Asia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
kalia kalu kallu	Hindi term for dark-skinned people, including South Indians, lower castes, and Black Africans.	South Asia, India	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
kebab	Discriminatory term when used to refer to Muslims, usually of Arabic or Turkic descent.	UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
kraut sauerkraut	Derogatory slang term for German people used in the US, used mostly during World War II	USA, Germany, Europe, WWII	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
labas	Derogatory Russian term for Lithuanian people	Russia, Lithuania, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
laowai	Chinese word for foreigners	China	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
lebo leb	Australian term for a Lebanese person, usually a Lebanese Australian	Australia, Lebanon	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
limey	USA term for British people	USA, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
locust	Hong Kong term for mainland Chinese people	Hong Kong, China	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
lugan	Refers to Lithuanian people	Lithuania	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
mayonnaise monkey	Used in the USA to refer to white people	USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
mayate	Spanish colloquial term for Black people	Spain, Black history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
mick/s	Derogatory term for Irish people	Scotland, Ireland	Scottish Government - Sectarianism Terms
migrant immigrant asylum Seeker refugee
mocro	Refers to Dutch Moroccan people	Netherlands, Morocco	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
mof moffen	Dutch term for German people	Netherlands, Germany, Europe	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
paddy	Term for Irish people. Shortened version of the name Patrick.	Ireland	Scottish Government - Sectarianism Terms Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
paki/s pakki/s pak/s	Pejorative for South Asians and sometimes Middle Eastern people, especially those living in Britain.	UK, South Asia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
pancake	Derogatory  term for East Asian people	East Asia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
pocho pocha	Derogatory term for Mexican people partially or fully integrated into US culture	USA, Mexico	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
pom pohm pommy pommie grant	Term for British immigrants used in Australian, New Zealand, and South Africa.	Australia, New Zealand, UK, South Africa	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Kadir O.
quashie	Derogatory term for Black people in the Caribbean	Caribbean, Black history	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
raghead towel head	Derogatory term for Arabs, Indians, Sikhs	UK, Middle East, North Africa, India	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
riots	The use of “uprisings” sees the civil unrest in London, Liverpool, Bristol and other parts of Britain in the 1970s and 1980s as legitimate forms of protest against the actions of the state and its agents. Referring to them as “riots” frames them simply as aggressive, illegal events.	Black history, UK	Black Cultural Archives Glossary
sawney	Derogatory term for Scottish people by English people	Scotland, England, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
sheep shagger	Term for Welsh and New Zealander people, in UK and Australia respectively	Wales, UK, New Zealand	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
wog-box ghetto blaster third world suitcase
spic	Racial slur for a Spanish-speaking person from Central or South America or the Caribbean, especially a Mexican.	Latin America, Caribbean, Mexico, USA
taff taffy	Derogatory term for Welsh people	Wales, UK	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
taig Teague teg teig	Northern Irish term for Irish nationalists	Northern Ireland
terrorist night club bomber	Often used as Islamophobic terms	UK, USA
touch of the tar brush lick of the tar brush	Used in the UK to suggest a predominantly white person has suspected African ancestry	UK, Black history
wasian	Meaning mixed white and Asian
wetback	USA term for undocumented immigrants	USA	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
whigger wigger	USA term for Irish people. Also refers to white youth who imitate urban Black youth.	USA, Ireland	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs
wog/s	A term originally used by the British Army in North Africa in World War II, mainly against dark-skinned Arabs. After the war, it came to be used as a slur in the UK against anyone with dark skin. In Australia, it is used to refer to southern European immigrants.	North Africa, UK, Europe, Australia, WWII-, Black history	David Pilgrim – Ferris State University – The Golliwog Caricature
zip/s zipperhead/s	Derogatory USA term for East Asian people. Also used as a derogatory slur by Italian American and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian and Italian mafiosi.	USA, Asian American history, Italian American history, Italy	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs Racial slur database - Zip