Contemporary Slurs: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 09:43, 15 November 2023

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