Talk:List of ethnic slurs

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This article has been mentioned by a media organization:

Cherre Stoneham (January 26, 2005). "Ex-weatherman slips the tongue". Orion Online.

Entry Inclusion Guidelines

Each entry in the List of Ethnic Slurs must have a citation, or it will be removed or moved to the #Quarantine section.

Entries that include a wikilink to an article on that slur, with a citation in that article (referring to the slur, not to some other sense of the word) may stay on the list, but including the citation in both places would be better.

Only ethnic slurs are allowed, including race and nationality along with ethnicity. Other slurs belong at List of regional nicknames, List of religious slurs, or in similar lists. For the sake of having a rule, Muslim turbans are considered religious, and Jews are both a religion and an ethnicity.

Foreign slurs that have become English language loanwords may be included, as long as the definition and sources are in English.

The purpose of this policy is to prevent vandals from adding joke entries we can't disprove, and to prevent endless cycles of re-adding and re-deleting the same slurs due to disagreement on what belongs on the list. Please don't make major changes to this policy without getting a consensus on the talk page.

Archives

Index

Archive 1	Archive 2	Archive 3
Archive 4	Archive 5	Archive 6
Archive 7	Archive 8	Archive 9
Archive 10	Archive 11	Archive 12
Archive 13	Archive 14

WASP

What about WASP? I'm shocked that this isn't on here.Txori (talk) 23:35, 19 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I don't consider "WASP" to be a slur. I am a WASP and I am proud to be a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Masterhatch (talk) 00:49, 31 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Almost any term can be used as a slur, if that's the intention. Will Beback talk 01:00, 31 July 2009

When used to describe a WASP by a person who is NOT considered a WASP, the term is very derisive. It implies that they are snobbish and look down their noses at all other cultures and people who are not similarly situated and consider them to be of an undesirable social caste. Think of it in the context of [the Outsiders], wherein the WASPS were referred to as [socias] by the [greasers]. (UTC)

Newfies, Peasoup and Squareheads

These are three terms used in Canada especially, although maybe other places as well. Newfie is an mildly offensive term for people from Newfoundland; presumably because it is the last province to join the country, and also because it is an island, the inhabitants of Newfoundland are often pictured as not too bright in "Newfie jokes". However, I must say that some of the best Newfie jokes I've heard were told to me by Newfoundlanders. I guess they have a good sense of humour. Peasoup is used to talk about the French Canadian. I don't know what the origin of the expression is. Squareheads is used by the French Canadians to describe the English Canadians. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.14.48.129 (talk) 05:50, 29 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Canucks

Since when it's the term Canuck an ethnic slur? That's a news to me. People think it is, but it is not. Norum (talk) 09:30, 29 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Please check the sources. They use the exact term to describe the word Canuck. --Jayron32 02:22, 6 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I lived in Canada for a number of yours and that is hardly considered to be a racial slur. Canadians refer to themselves as Canucks quite often. They are aware that Americans think this is a racist slur, but it really is not. Norum (talk) 08:37, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

See here and here. In Canada the term «canuck» is not a slur. The slurs are terms like «frog» to designate a French speaking individual and «bloke» to designate ans English speaking individual. I don't think that the NHL would have consented to use a slur a name for the Vancouver Canucks hockey club. It should therefore be removed from this article. --Jazzeur (talk) 14:42, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm afraid I see a flaw in that logic. Sports leagues have a history of being insensitive to this sort of thing, for example Washington Redskins#Native American Mascot Controversy. Also, this seems to be an odd case where some people use it as a slur, when in fact the object of the slur, the Canadians, are not actually offended by it. Beeblebrox (talk) 15:18, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

FWIR it was originally a slur for French Canadians, but by the early 20th Century that was no longer the case; the Johnny Canuck comicstrip/book was one of the sources which transposed it to mean all CAnadians; while Can-OOK is something of a joking slur, there's no way it's currently a slur, especially an ethnic one. The two slurs I've heard, coined by the USians in the film industry, are "frostbacks" and "snow niggers".....and CAnadians have far more inventive and colourful ways of derogating each other, most of which are vulgar so I won't list them off here....Skookum1 (talk) 16:46, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You've got a point there, it's not really an ethnic slur if it means Canadians in general, since they are not all the same ethnicity. Ok, I guess we take it out. Beeblebrox (talk) 16:52, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It's also listed at List of regional nicknames, that seems more appropriate. Beeblebrox (talk) 18:32, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Cool then. Norum (talk) 19:45, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Done--Beeblebrox (talk) 23:31, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pakeha

Pakeha IS most definitely an ethnic slur, as it is used as a racist term by some Maoris to describe British New Zealanders, both British-born and New Zealand-born. - (203.211.72.57 (talk) 01:38, 3 August 2009 (UTC))[reply]

Coon

In australia coon is used to describe aboriginals. here is a source for it, i aint to good at editing so http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/people/racism.html--The-deejjj (talk) 14:47, 3 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The term is certainly understood to be insulting, but is not in general use, though I have heard people from country/central NSW use it (Though 30 years ago!) It is also a brand of CHEESE, supposedly named after a person with the surname Coon. However, there IS some debate over this origin, and some moves by one anti-racism 'advocate' to ban the use of this brand name.

news.com.au September 26, 2008 "Anti-racism academic cheesed off with Coon" by David Barbeler http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24405098-421,00.html 220.101.28.25 (talk) 09:22, 10 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Banana

Similar to "apple" for native people, "banana" is a person of Asian descent who is no longer Asian by culture, at least as perceived by unassimilated Asians; extremely derisive, though can be used self-referentially in joking terms, I don't know where to find a cite for it but it's very common in Vancouver and, I would think, in California etc. Not usually used for Koreans, Japanese etc I think I've only ever heard it used for/by Chinese.Skookum1 (talk) 17:20, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Bohunk, Boho, Hunky and Uke

Of these four terms, "Uke" is by far the most derisive, the others are nowadays only mild and somewhat jocular, though "Hunky" can still raise hackles; a famoous entrepreneur, "Hunky Bill", was a purveyor of perogies and Ukrainian sausages and his booths at events like the PNE would sometimes raise objections from Ukrainian community associations/activists; it can also be used for Hungarian, though less commonly. I'd add these if I knew where to find cites for them...."Boho" is relatively recent, and is a "spin" off Bohunk, and is more derisive in nature; "you big bohunk" can be meant quite affectionately, even flatteringly, for a large or well-built Ukrainian-Canadian male, though again how to cite that I'm not sure.Skookum1 (talk) 17:39, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Scandahoovian and Norhoogian

Pointedly but only mildly derisive, sometimes jocular, these are ethnic slurs, not sure where to find cites but definitely part of North American English, particularly in the US Midwest and Western Canada. "Swede" when applied to non-Swedes was also considered a derisive (by Norwegians, mostly, not sure about the Danes).Skookum1 (talk) 15:26, 24 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Gringo

This article mentions "gringo" as possibly originating from a benign "green go" from the uniforms of American soldiers during the Mexican-American war... this should be removed as it is not only lacking a citation, but American uniforms were blue, never green, from the 1770's till almost 1900... the war was in the 1840s, which means there is no logical possibility of this being correct. Robertz1986 07:46, 31 August 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Robertz1986 (talk • contribs) 07:29, 31 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Insufficient research and sourcing

Many of the terms listed here are based on hearsay. There are many slang or vernacular terms of uncertain circulation that do not deserve encyclopedic treatment. See ABCD...

Some of the terms are clearly new ways of rebranding old stereotypes and their flaunting as "consecrated" terms is at the same time an attempt to give them currency. Wikipedia has no business giving a platform to race baiters.

--Damis (talk) 17:05, 1 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

To fight an enemy, you must know it. Also, people must know some words simply to avoid them. There are plenty of non-native English speakers who would benefit from this list. I doubt anyone becomes a race baiter after reading wikipedia. And we are NOT giving a "platform" to them. On the contrary, we maintain this list to stay away from Urban dictionary and the likes. - Altenmann >t 18:20, 1 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

---Wikipedia is not a political platform or a tool for fixing the ills of the world. Is a resource of notable and current events, facts, etc. Obscure slang, or political controversies, like the one surrounding the term "maccaca" are not of encyclopedic interest. --Damis (talk) 22:18, 4 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

No, Wikipedia is also not "a resource of notable and current events, facts, etc..." It is an encyclopedia, no more, no less. You having no interest in a topic has no bearing on anyone else's interest in said topic. We currently have over 3,000,000 articles and if one doesn't interest you, don't read it; I sure there are other articles you would enjoy. Cheers. L0b0t (talk) 13:55, 5 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Improper

This whole "article" is racist and subpar crap. No respectable dictionary would spread slurs. Fuck America! --93.106.210.171 (talk) 13:36, 5 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Actually there are quite a few dictionaries that cover slang and slurs please see:[1] or [2]. Study of slur etymology does not imply endorsement of the underlying concepts of racism and prejudice. Cheers. L0b0t (talk) 13:48, 5 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

"Whigger" and Poles

Yatzhek, I'm sorry, I read the source you use, and it neither shows research or common usage. It's just one guy's essay, with no references to works that can verify it. It may be interesting to you, and I am sure it would be if it was more than just speculation, but its currency in the English language is low to nonexistent in common parlance, and as it stands it is not of encyclopedic interest for this article. Perhaps you can start an article on this topic and see where it leads you. Right now it's just no good in the list of ethnic slurs. Chris (クリス • フィッチュ) (talk) 12:11, 7 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

^--afraid of being called a weaboo —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.110.59.213 (talk) 08:36, 15 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Polack

As the article says, "Polack" is the proper term for a pole in norwegian and swedish, but the article leaves out the fact that it would also be the proper term in Danish and Icelandic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gormtheelder (talk • contribs) 12:52, 8 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

"Slur"

The words in this article vary from being inoffensive to very offensive. The intro seems to imply that they are all offensive - this is not so. This 'offensiveness' also varies in different parts of the English speaking world. The word 'Jap' would appear to be offensive in the US but not in the UK.

Paddy

'Paddy' is derived from 'Patrick' a very popular name in Ireland and of the patron saint of Ireland. A prominent English politician in the UK is Paddy Ashdown and there is a TV presenter and comic, called Patrick Kielty who also sometimes goes by the name 'Paddy'. So in the UK 'Paddy' is not necessarily a 'slur'.

85.119.112.73 (talk) 23:41, 23 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Indian Slumdog

Can someone please edit the article and place this ethnic slur.

(Primarily used in the UK, Australia, United States, New Zealand, and Canada) an Indian, a Hindu or someone from Mumbai. The term has originated after the release of the academy award winning film called slumdog millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire has stirred controversy on a few issues including the welfare of its child actors and its portrayals of Indians and Hinduism.