List of ethnic slurs - Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 155.84.57.253 (talk) at 20:46, 1 December 2004 (→Y). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 20:46, 1 December 2004 by 155.84.57.253 (talk) (→Y)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

The following is a list of ethnic slurs that are, or have been, used to refer to members of a given ethnicity (or, in some cases, nationality or religion) in a derogatory or pejorative manner. The term is listed, followed by its primary user(s) and a definition.

Terms on this list vary greatly in offensiveness. Many are taboo. Some are used more widely than might be imagined based on their "definition"; for example, Chink can be used to refer to any Asian person, a form of metonymy. The key here is that the person using the slur cares so little about the target, that the person's actual background is irrelevant. The motivation for using an ethnic slur is often racism or bigotry.

It is not uncommon for minority groups to adopt an originally disparaging term and use it of themselves, as an act of self-assertion. However, they may be extremely offended if it is used by others; nigger is an extreme example.

Template:CompactTOCallplustwo2

0-9

51st Stater – Facetious reference to any citizen of a nation whose politics and culture appear closely aligned with the United States'. This term is used in self-deprication, or to malign. Usually applied to Canadians, the term can also be used to describe Australians or the British.
927 – U.S. blacks, comes from the suburban Los Angeles Police Department code for "Suspicious Person"

A

A.I. – short for "American Ignorance" used for US citizens
Abba-Dabba – from the film Betrayed, referring to Arabs and the United Arab Emirates city of Abu Dhabi
ABA – Another Bloody Australian. Used in Canadian ski resort towns, primarily Whistler/Blackcomb. Describes members the prevalent Australian ex-patriate communities in those areas.
ABCD – "American-Born Confused Desi" used for American-born Indians who are confused about their culture
Abo – Australia, Australian aboriginal. This used to be the standard common term for Aboriginals, and was used by many Aboriginal people themselves (It was not considered offensive until the 1950s)
Abomination – North America, Offensive slang for half bred children, mainly used for half white children
Adolf – Germans, referring to Adolf Hitler
African queen – U.K., a black gay male. Also the title of a film.
Afro-Saxon – Young white men who act black
Ahab – U.S., derogatory term for Arabs, from the novelty song "Ahab the Arab"
Ainu – Japanese people, originally referring to a valid minority (the Ainu) of Japan, now sometimes used as a derogatory term for any Asian, emphasizing barbarism
Albino – whites (see albino)
Albo- Albanians
Ame-koh – Americans, used in Japan
Americunt – can be used in reference to American women and men
AmeriKKKan – a reference to perceived racism in American society
Amerloque – France, an American
Amoronican – used in reference to perceived low intelligence of Americans
Amo – the Amish
A-Neh – Singaporean and Malaysian Hokkiens, an Indian person
Angie – Anglophones in Canada, used in Quebec
Anglo – US, a white person
Ang Mor (Kwee) – Hokkien speakers, Red Hair (Devil), a white person
Ape Candy – Whites who date blacks.
Apple – U.S., a black person (apples hang from trees) cf. windchime, Canada, an Indian who "acts" like a white (red on the outside, white on the inside).
Apu – U.S., popularized by the character of the same name from The Simpsons, referring to Indians
Arkie – similar to Okie, except from Arkansas instead of Oklahoma. see Okie.
A-rab – U.S., someone of Middle Eastern descent (pronounced as the letter "A" followed by "rab" as in rabbit)
Armo – Armenians
Aunt Jemima, U.S. Blacks, a black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout", cf. Uncle Tom
Ay-rab – U.S., variant spelling of A-rab

B

Babuska – Eastern Europeans, deriving from the head covering worn by Ukrainian women or from the Russian word for grandmother
Babtou – France, an ethnically-French French person ("français de souche"), used by French of other backgrounds (verlan for "toubab")
Bagel dog – Jews, referring to traditional food product: bagels
Baguette – France, an ethnically-French French person ("français de souche"), used by French of other backgrounds
Bahadur – Nepali servants
Bamboo coon – Chinese people
Banana – Canada, U.S., an Asian who is "yellow on the outside, white on the inside"
Bangla – Malaysia and Singapore, a Bangladeshi
Barbarian – Ancient Greece, any non-Greek (derived from the Greek perception of any non-Greek-speaker babbling ("ba-ba-ba"); Ancient China, any non-Chinese, but applied especially upon non-Confucianist cultures
BBCD – British Born Confused Desi
Beaner / bean-eater – Western U.S., someone of Mexican descent
Beaner – U.S., Chicanos or Latinos in general
Beastie Boy – Jews who act black, comes from The Beastie Boys
Bigger Thomas – U.S. Blacks, slang for a bad nigger
Bhai – Malaysia and Singapore, a Sikh person. Originates from the innocuous Punjabi word meaning brother but in this sense it is offensive
Bhaiya – India, actually meaning brother, it refers to people native to the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
Bihari – (India), refers to a person from Bihar and Jharkhand, often used to denote a person who is illiterate and backward.
Binda – Derisively applied towards Middle Easterners
Bindi – An person with Indian descent
Black pillar box – U.K., a Muslim woman who wears a burka
Black velvet – Australia, an Aboriginal prostitute
Blackhead – U.K., an Arab
Blizzard – a bunch of white people
Boat niggers – U.S., Cuban people, or anyone from the Caribbean seeking asylum in the U.S.
Boat people, boaties – Australia, sea-borne illegal immigrants of any nationality (In the 1970s usually Vietnamese, today mainly Afghans and Iraqis)
Bog trotter – UK, Irish people
Bög – Swedes, used by Finns (Actually Swedish for a homosexual male)
Bogan – Australia, universal term for white redneck. Some parts of Australia use equivalent terms such as Westie (Sydney term - as many live in the city's western suburbs) and Bevan (Queensland term)
Bohunk – U.S., 1890s, a person from east-central Europe, especially a laborer (compound of Bo(hemian) + Hung(arian)).
Bok gwai – Cantonese, a white person. Literally means "white ghost"
Bolillo – Mexico, white people (bolillo is a white bread roll)
Boofer – Hawaii, Polynesian word equivalent to nigger
Boong – Australia, Australian aboriginal. Highly offensive
Boonga – New Zealand, a pacific islander ("boo-nger")
Boonie – New Zealand, a pacific islander
Border Jumper – U.S., an illegal Mexican immigrant
Boris – U.S., a Russian immigrant
Bosniak –person from Bosnia, regardless of religion (deemed highly offensive to non-Muslims in Bosnia)
Bozgor – Romania, a Hungarian esp. living in Romania
Bounty bar – U.S., a black person who acts like a white person
Boy – Southern U.S. whites and South African whites, a black man
Boy Lover – U.K. & North America, a Greek male
Bubble – U.K., Greek (cockney rhyming slang "bubble and squeak")
Brit – U.S, A British person, not usually offensive.
Brown sugar – U.S./U.K., a black woman, not offensive - this term is used liberally in the Rolling Stones song of the same name
Bule – Indonesian term for a white person, roughly translates as "pigskin"
Buddhahead – African Americans in Eastern U.S., an asian person
Bulgar – a Bulgarian person (derives from the tribe of barbarians that invaded the balkans)
Bumpkin – Australia, white person, usually living in rural area. Equivalent term of hillbilly
Burkha Bitch – U.S., a Muslim woman
Burner – derived from Wagonburner, Canada, for native Canadians
Bushie – South Africa, a Coloured

C

Camel jockey – U.S., someone of Middle Eastern descent
Canuck – U.S. and Canada, a Canadian national. Not considered offensive by most Canadians.
Cardboard nigger – US Blacks, a black person "selling out" to the whites or not acting "black"
Carpet bagger – US Southerners, a Northerner who moves to the South.
Carlton – U.S., refers to Carlton Banks: a black character from the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" who "acted white".
Casper the Unfriendly Ghost – U.S. Asians, a naughty white person
Cave bitch – U.S., from an Ice Cube song about white women
Céfran –France, an ethnically-French French person ("français de souche"), used by French of other backgrounds
Celestial – Australia, 19th century, Chinese
Cereal – a person from Syria (uses an "a" for singular form, and an "s" for plural) Also, brands of cereal are used.
Chakh-chakh – Israel, a Mizrahi Jew. Used by Ashkenazi Jews and integrated Israelis to ridicule the preservation of the pharyngeal (guttural) pronunciations of Hebrew consonants ח ħêth and ע ‘áyin by Mizrahi Jewish immigrants
Chalala – France, young trendy Jew.
Chapata / chapat – US Indian and Pakistani, a person of Oriental (Chinese, Japanese etc.) origin. Word is derived from Hindi 'chapata' meaning 'flat', used to refer to flat nose and facial features.
Charlie – U.S., a Vietnamese person (shortened from radio code for the Vietcong (V.C.): "Victor Charlie"); term also 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)
Charles – U.S. generalization, an Asian person (derived from Charlie)
Cheese-eating surrender monkeys – U.S./international, French (from perceived French cowardice in military situations)
Chefur – Person from Balkans, usually one from former Yugoslavia.
Cheese-Head – U.S., a person from Wisconsin
Chinaman – International, person of Chinese or generally of Asian descent
Ching chong – U.S./Australia, someone of Chinese descent; term directed at Yao Ming by Shaquille O'Neal in highly-publicized incident in 2002
Chink – U.S./U.K., someone of Chinese descent
Chocko – Australia, ethinc person of dark/olive complexion, usually of Mediterranian extraction
Chocolate drop – U.K., a black person;
Chogee – Australia, someone of Asian descent
Chongo/chango – (also "mono") U.S. Hispanics, a black person ("chongo/chango" is Spanish for "monkey")
Chopperflops – Canada, generalization, an Asian person
Chow – Australia, 19th century, Chinese
Chowie – U.K./Australia, someone of Asian descent
Chug Canada, a native Canadian
Christ-Fucker – a Christian person, usually referring to Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinist, or Presbyterian
Christ-killer – used in some Christian cultures, a Jewish person
Christofah a canadian fop
Choong – Australia, Vietnamese or Cambodian immigrants
Chuntaro – Mexico,U.S., a rural Mexican immigrant
Claip – an Amish person (origin uncertain; more commonly used as a verb, in the present participle – claipping – to refer to an act of harassment against the Amish, especially stoning an Amish-driven buggy as it passes along a road, particularly at night)
Clog or cloggy – used in some cultures, a Dutch person (from their supposed wearing of clogs)
Clog wog – used in Australia for a person of Dutch origin, not always offensive
Coca – Portugal, a Mozambican (usually white), shortened from the word Coca-Cola.
Cochise – U.S., a Native American, after Cochise, a Chiricahua Apache warrior chief who resisted white usurpation of Indian land
Cockroach – U.S., a Mexican immigrant
Cockroach – Germany & U.S. midwest, a Frenchman
Coco – U.K., a black person, New Zealand, a Pacific Islander(shortened from coconut)
Coconut – U.S./U.K./Australia, a black or Hispanic person who is perceived to act "like a white person" (a coconut is dark on the outside but white on the inside); New Zealand, a Pacific Islander
Colorado Beetle French WWII era("doryphore"): a German person.
Colored – U.S., an unacceptable term for Black person, however it was acceptable in the past - for example "NAACP"
Coloured – South Africa, a person of multiracial descent
Conchy Joe – Bahamas, a white native whose ancestors were slave-owning Loyalists; can be used jokingly and without negativity to refer to any white Bahamian
Convict – Australia, white/anglo Australian, used by aboriginal and ethnic Australians, derived from the first European settlers on the First Fleet in 1788
Coolie – South African whites, a South African of Indian descent
Coon – U.S. and Australia, a black person, from the tradition African god, Coonda. Coonda was the god of snow and hail in Africa
Coonass – degrading term projected to Cajun people
Commie – US, a Russian. Sometimes used to refer to a Chinese individual
Cosmopolite – Soviet Union, a Jew
Cotton picker – U.S., a black person
Cracker – U.S., a white person, esp. one in the South or Appalachia with a poor, rural background. Derogatory, though sometimes used self-referentially and interchangeably with "good ol' boy"
Crick-Crick – U.S., a Japanese tourist - usually with cameras, from the sound of the camera shutter
Criminal – U.K. and N.Z., an Australian (see also convict)
Crusader – Islam, a person from a country were Latin Christianity is dominant (North America and Western Europe)
Cuff – U.S., a black person
Curry muncher – Australia and New Zealand, an Indian person
Curry – Australia and New Zealand, an Indian person (shortened from curry muncher)
Cygan – Poland, it used to be Polish name for Gypsies, but due to popular belief that Gypsies don't work, steal and con people it is used today as a noun and verb meaning "con"
Czarnuch – Poland, derogatory word for people of African or Middle Eastern origin; derived from Polish "czarny" (black); similarly to U.S. "Negro/nigger" Polish "czarny" is neutral, statement-of-fact, while "czarnuch" is highly offensive;

D

Da Bi Zi – Big noses: Chinese slur used to denote Caucasian people
Dago – (also "dag") U.S., someone of Italian descent (originally derived from the Spanish name Diego, it was applied to Spanish, Portuguese or Italian sailors)
DagoWop – U.S., (a combination of two slurs)an Italian
Darkie or darky – various, someone with dark-colored skin; also a racist, iconic caricature with inky-black skin, googly eyes and exaggerated red, pink or white lips
Darkness – various, someone with dark-colored skin (from skit on David Chapelle's comedy show featuring Rick James)
Diaper head – United States, someone of Middle Eastern descent, or another person that wears a turban
Didicoy – UK, gipsy
Ding – Australia?, an Italian
Dinge – US, a black person
Dog eater – U.S., someone of Filipino or Korean descent
Dog muncher – U.S., someone of Korean descent
Don – England, a Spaniard (from the Spanish title) (Common use in Elizabethan times)
Donny Brasco – an Italian person
Dot or Dot-head – U.S., someone of South Asian descent (from the Hindu practice of wearing bindis)
Double Dutch / Dutch courage – U.S./U.K., inferior attributes for Dutch people
Dresiarz / Dres – Poland, young urban people wearing sportswear (from Polish "dres" - sportswear), usually bald, often organised crime (recruiting from this group)
DWO – "Driving While Oriental" – U.S., referring to Asian drivers, perceived to be poorer drivers than others
Dune coon – US, someone of Middle Eastern descent
Dutchman – English-speaking South African whites, used for Afrikaner

E

Egg – a white person who "acts" like an Asian (white on the outside, yellow on the inside)
Eggplant – North-eastern U.S., a black person
Elbow – an Albanian person (derives from the other slur, "Albo")
Elvis – U.S., overweight southerner with unexplainable sex appeal (for example Bill Clinton)
Esse – U.S., someone of Hispanic descent
Ethnic – Australia, someone whose ethnicity is not of Northern European decent or indigenous decent, someone eles
EuroNazi – U.S., Europeans, referring to Europe's history of dictators, communists, nazis, and imperialism
Europhile – U.S. Any European, especially mainland Europeans, who are perceived as sexually promiscuous and overly passive
Eurotrash – U.S./U.K., Europeans gatecrashing society by trading on false claims of wealth, titles of nobility etc.
Euro-weenies – U.S., Europeans, particularly French, who don't support instances of US foreign military intervention
Eyetie / Eye-talian – U.S., someone of Italian descent

F

Fabio – Italian person
Faj – Black person; used primarily in South African prisons by white people
Farang – Thailand, non asian person
Fay-zai – fat guy in chinese
FBI – Boston, for "Foreign Born Irish" who immigrate and immediately take high-paying white collar jobs
Feather head – U.S., a Native American
Feuj – France, a jew (Verlan of Juif)
Fender head – U.S., an Asian
Fig newton – a white person who acts black. Opposite of Oreo
Filippa – Italy, a Filipina
Fisheyes – U.S. Asians, a white person
Fjord nigger – Alaska, an Alaskan Native of the Tlingit tribe
Flattie U.K. traveller community, someone of fixed abode
Flip – U.S., from US troops during the Philippine-American war "Fucking Little Island People"; someone of Filipino descent
Flea – a person person of Yugoslavian descent (derives from the fact that the majority of the Yugoslav names end in "ich" or "itch", when a flea bites, you itch)
Fob, FOB, F.O.B. – U.S., a recent Asian immigrant; Canada, any recent immigrant; New Zealand a pacific islander (from Fresh Off the Boat); Also used by US-born Samoans to refer to recent arrivals
Fog-Breather – U.S., British person
Forby – Australia, a Jew. Rhyming slang, forby is short for four-by-two, a piece of wood four inches by two, commonly used in building (Now obsolete)
Fork – a brown person in chinese
Franchute – Spain, a French national
Franco – french person
Frenchy – U.S., a person with French roots
Fritz – U.K. and France, a German
Frog or froggie – U.S./U.K., a French national
Fuckoff – France, a British youth
Fuzzy wuzzy – Australia/NZ, a Melanesian (usually Papuan or Solomon Islander)

G

Gabacho – Spain, a French national
Gachupín – Central America, a Spaniard
Gadjo/gadji – Gypsy, a non-Gypsy male/female
Gaijin – Japan, any non-Japanese person
Gavacho – Mexico, a white person (See gabacho)
Gallego – Argentina, Cuba; a Spaniard (literally "Galician")
Geechie – South Carolina & Georgia, disrespectful term for the "Gulla" - a distinct subculture/Semi-African dialect of the Negros of the coastal islands
Geek – Greek person(singular only)
Geep– U.S, an Italian (From Pinocchio's "father" Gepetto, who was Italian)
Germ Man – a german person (using the bacteria form of germ)
Ghati – (India) in general, any Maharashtrian; else specifically Maharashtrians from Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur
Ghetto monkey – U.S., a black person
Ghost – China (Qing Dynasty), a foreigner, esp. a Japanese person (white people were "ghosts from the seas")
Ghost – Sub-Saharan Africa, a white person
Ghostbuster – an asian who beats up on whites.
Ghundi – A derogatory term for an Indian or South Asian (from Gandhi)
Gicho or jicho – Spain, a Gipsy (from gitano)
Gin – Australia – an Aboriginal woman
Gino – Canadian – a young man of Mediterranean descent who acts in a macho fashion
Ginzo– U.S; An Italian-American
Goatfucker – used by the late filmmaker Theo Van Gogh to denote Muslims
Goat roper – U.S. southwest, white people (mostly hicks and/or suburban cowboys)
Gobbler – A Turkish person (gobble = Turkey)
Goddams (Les); medieval France; Englishmen, after the common exclamation uttered by them.
Godo – Canary Islands, "Goth", a Peninsular Spaniard.
Goita – Catalan countryside, a Barcelonese city-dweller (from Catalan goita, "look!")
Golliwog(g) – British or U.S., a dark-skinned person, after Florence Kate Upton's children's book character
Gook – U.S. military slang since the Korean War, applied initially to Koreans and later to Vietnamese during the Vietnam War; It derives from Hanguk, the Korean name for Korea
Goomba – various groups, An Italian person
Gorilla – a big, fat black person.
Goy – Jews, a non-Jew or a Jew that does not practice Judaism; (Goy, plural goyim, is the standard Hebrew and Yiddish word for a non-Jew and is not intended to be offensive when used in those languages)
Greaser – U.S., someone of Latin American descent, esp. Mexican
Greaseball – U.S., an Italian person
Grease monkey – U.S., Italian, or any other mediterranean person (Note that the same term is used for a motor mechanic)
Greegi – Greek person
Greek – UK & North America, person who indulges in anal sex (for example Greek style, Greek love, etc.)
Grimace – U.S.; a fat particularly dark-skinned black person (from the McDonald's restaurant character)
Gringo – Latin America and Spain: Non-Hispanic U.S. national Hence Gringolandia, the United States; Not a pejorative term, unless used in an offensive manner (of course); For Brazilians, any foreigner
Gubba – Australia – Aboriginal term for white people
Guido – US, someone of Italian descent (a genuine Italian first name)
Guinea – U.S., someone of Italian descent (Derives from "Guinea Negro", which came from the popular belief that Italians were part african because of their darker skin)
Gwailo – also spelled "gweilo"; a Cantonese term for Caucasians (Similar to the entry above for ghost)
Gyppo – UK, Romany peoples, short for 'Gypsy' (see below); Also, UK and Australian military, Egyptians, sometimes used affectionately, but "bloody Gyppo" was a term of abuse
Gypsy – A Sinti or Roma (Not Universally Regarded as Offensive), also an Armenian

H

Habib – U.S., someone of South Asian (e.g., Indian or Pakistani) descent
Hairyback – English speaking South Africans, an Afrikaner
Hajji – an Iraqi, Arab, Muslim, or occasionally other nonwhite, used by US occupation forces; one soldier notably wrote "Hodgie killer" on his footlocker (See Hajj for non-offensive usage). Not to be confused with Hadji of Jonny Quest
Half-Breed – U.S., a multiracial person
Halfrican – U.S., a multiracial person of partial black descent ("half-African"); sometimes self-applied
Hankee Yankee – U.S. Asians, a white southerner
Haole – native Hawaiians, a non-native white person
Happy Slave - US/UK, an Irish immigrant
Harp - US, an Irishmen
Heeb – U.S., a Jewish person (Short for Hebrew)
Heinz 57 - U.S., a person of indeterminate racial or national origin
Hervat – a croatian person. From "Hrvatska", the croatian word for croatia
Hick – U.S., rural person, generally uneducated, similar to yokel
Hillbilly – U.S., a rural white person, esp. one from Appalachia
Hindoo – Australia, 19th century, Indian
Hindy – An person with Indian descent, or a person who practices Hinduism
Hok gwai – Cantonese, a black person; Literally means "dark ghost"
Hooligan / Hool – Poland, troublesome soccer fans, about themselves, called kibol by others
Holy roller – U.S., evangelical Christians
Honger – North America, a person from Hong Kong
Honky – also spelled "honkey" or "honkie", U.S. blacks, a white person (derived from "hunkie")
Hori – New Zealand, a Maori
Hoser – A Canadian, particularly one who drinks a lot of beer and spends much of his time urinating (hence "hose")
al-Hufa – (Arabic language: the barefoot) the West Bank, a person from the East Bank
Hymie – also spelled "heimy", U.S. blacks, a Jewish person, especially from New York City ("Hymietown")
Hun – Allies in WWI, a German soldier; also Irish nationalists, a British nationalist (See Huns for non-offensive usage)
Hungaro –Mexico, a person of Roma descent. See Gypsy
Hungo – a person of Hungarian roots
Hunkie – U.S., someone of Hungarian descent

I

Ian – an Armenian person, since almost every Armenian has a "ian" at the end of their name.
Ice mutant – black supremacists, a white person
Ice Nigger – a native canadian person (Eskimo, Inuit, ect.)
Inbred – Referring to the stereotype that people from Appalachia have sexual intercourse with their family members.
Injun – a Native American, from "Indian"
Ireng – means black; a Malay slur for Africans or Papuans
Island Nigger – a person from any of the West Indian islands

J

Jack Mormon – Western U.S., an LDS-born person who has left the church
Jafa – a resident of Auckland New Zealand
Jap – U.S./U.K., someone of Japanese descent
Japo – U.S./U.K., someone of Japanese descent
JAP – U.S., Jewish women (Jewish American Princess)/Aust., spoilt Jewish adolescents (Jewish American Prince or Princess)
Jawa – U.S., sand people, someone of Middle Eastern descent. See also sand monkey
Jerry – UK, a German national
Jewgene – US Northeast, esp. New York, (pronounce like Eugene) a Jewish person that acts Italian
Jewop – US, Jewish Italian
Jigaboo, jig – U.S., a black person
Jihadist – a Muslim
Jock – UK, Scottish person
John Chinaman – Australia, 19th century, Chinese
Jook-sing – a Westernized Asian
Jungle Bunny – U.S. whites, a black person
Jungle Fever – North America, a non-black that prefers sex with Blacks (for example - Robert DeNiro has Jungle Fever)

K

Kaffir – South African whites, a black person
Kalla / kaalu / kalia – US Indian and Pakistani, a black person. Derived from the Hindi word 'kaala' meaning black.
Kani – Iceland, an American, particularly an American serviceman, contraction of the Icelandic word "Amerikani" but sounds like the Icelandic term for Rabbit
Katsap – the Former Soviet Union, a Russian person.
Keling – Malaysia and Singapore, an Indian person. Very offensive.
Khokhol – the Former Soviet Union, a Ukrainian person.
Kibol – Poland, troublesome soccer fan, derogatory; comes from the neutral word kibic (sports fan)
Kike – U.S., a Jewish person, possibly derived from the fact that, for religious reasons, illiterate Jewish immigrants would sign their name with a circle, instead of the cross or X used by illiterate immigrants of other backgrounds (Yiddish keikl="circle").
Kim Chi – North America, unflattering term for a Korean, from the spicy pickled Korean cabbage known for its offensive smell
Kiwi – New Zealand nationals, derived from the fact Kiwi birds originate there. Not considered offensive.
Kraut – U.S./U.K., a German national
Kugel – South African whites, an affluent Jewish woman

L

Lanscaper – person from Ukraine or Poland (both of which sound like a structure of land, or something that builds land, ie.uCRANE, POLEand.)
Landscaper – US, a Mexican
Lapp – a Sami. Derogatory Swedish for "patch"; the Samis wearing clothes which in the eyes of the Swedish colonist looked like patchwork. In Sweden normally used without derogatory meaning but often taken as derogatory. Used widely throughout the world without understanding of its alleged derogatory nature.
Lebo – Australia, Lebanese. Considered highly offensive to the point of being a 'fighting word'.
Leprauchaun – Irish person (usually one with red hair, pale skin, and freckles.)
Levee rat – degrading term projected to Cajun People and people of the swamp
Lewinsky – U.S., a promiscuous Jewish woman - usually overweight and/or unattractive (also a term for fellatio)
Limey – U.S., a British national – British sailors ate limes to prevent scurvy
Long nose – China, a person of European descent See Da Bi Zi
Loogan or Lugan – U.S., a person of Lithuanian descent
Lumbee – N. & S. Carolina, disparaging term for persons of perceived mixed Native American, Negro & European ancestry, the term Lumbee derived from town "Lumberton" in south-central North Carolina - home to a group of mixed race persons that falsely claim to be a Indian Tribe (group not recognized by Bureau of Indian Affairs)
Lysol – Canada, a Native Canadian. Named due to Native Canadians' perceived chemical dependance about household cleaners.

M

Mac – U.S., a person of Scottish descent (from the common surname form MacXxxx)
Macaque – Belgium (French) – an Arab or a Negro; derived from macaque monkeys
Macaquito – Argentina (Spanish) – a Brazilian; derived from the Portuguese word macaco (monkey)
Mall honky – an indiscriminate white consumer.
Makak – Belgium (Dutch) – a Moroccan; derived from macaque
Maketo – Basque Country, a Spaniard
Makhla – US Indian and Pakistani, a person of Mexican origin
Maco, Maconie – a Macedonian person (can also be spelled "Mako")
Madrasi – (India) any South Indian person.
Mangia Cake – Canada – used by Italians of a person of northern European descent
Mara – Mexico, El Salvador, Originally a Salvadorian term used to decribe a street gang, in Mexico it is used to describe any person from central america associated with street gangs
Maria – Mexico, a native american woman
Mario – U.S., Italian person. (also "Luigi" is used)
Mat Salleh – Malaysia and Singapore – a white person; derived from mad sailor.
Mau-Mau – U.S./U.K., a black activist
Mayate – U.S. hispanics, Spanish equivalent of nigger
M.A.W.P – North America; Murder All White People, Used by minorites to indicate their hatred of white people.
Med-Wop – U.S; Any Mediterranean Person not from Italy(Greece, North Africa, Spain, South Balkans, Portugal, Malta, and Turkey).
Mehmet – (Turkish Cypriot) – a mainland Turk. Mehmet is a Turkish derivitive of Mohammed.
Mexicans – Australia. In Sydney, a term used for people arriving from Victoria, which is south of the Murray River (analogous to the Rio Grande). A humorous term not intended to be offensive, but sometimes taken that way. Also a Queensland term referring to those from New South Wales.
Mexican't – U.S., an unemployed or low-paid Mexican immigrant, commonly illegal workers
Mick or Mickey – U.S., a person of Irish descent (from the common surname form McXxxx)
Midnight – a black person (used only in singular form)
Mohammedan – a Muslim. Considered impolite and offensive because it would seem to imply that Muslims worship Mohammed.
Mojado – Southwestern U.S.; used primarily by Hispanic-Americans. "Mojado" is the Spanish word for wetback (an illegal immigrant from south of the border).
Molly Mormon – Western U.S., an unflattering term for the stereotypically bubbly and submissive LDS homemaker housewife in pioneer-stock LDS culture in the western U.S.
Mollywog – UK & Canada; a dark skinned or negro female (also "Molly Wog")
Mongrel – a multiracial person
Monkey – U.S., a black person
Moolie – U.S., a black person; used primarily by Italian-Americans. "Moolie" is short for mulignane, which means eggplant in the Neapolitan dialect (presumably because the eggplant is so dark that it reveals a purplish tint, similar to many blacks).
Moon Cricket – U.S., a black person
Moro, moraco – Spain, a Moor, but see Moro.
Mountain Nigger – a person from Montenegro.
Mrs. Simpson Egypt, 1930s and 40s, an English woman (after the Duchess of Windsor). Intended to be highly insulting when shouted at English women in the street.
Mudbone – U.S., an elderly black man (from Richard Pryor's character of the same name)
Mud Person – U.S. white supremacists, a non-white person (usually seen in the plural form as mud people)
Munt – South Africa, a black person
Mutt – a multiracial person

N

Nam'er– North America , A person of Vietnamese descent
Naga – U.S., a black person (Naga stands for North American Ground Ape, used by the LAPD during the Watts riot in LA). But also see Naga.
Natasha – India, an Uzbek prostitute working illegally in Mumbai. Turkey, Russian prostitute.
Natascha – North America, a Russian woman (from Boris & Natasha of the Bullwinkle cartoon)
Nazi – North America, Europe, etc., a German person or extremely strict authoritarian.
Newf – Canada, a person from Newfoundland
Newfie – Canada, a person from Newfoundland, can be used as a term of pride
NFN – U.K., Normal for Norfolk, implying learning difficulties due to inbreeding in isolated fen communities.
Nigger – U.S./U.K., a black person (also "niggra", southern U.S. pronunciation; "nigga", Ebonics). Also historically used towards Native Americans, Hawai‘ians, Filipinos, mulattoes, so-called "Melungeons", or generally any people deemed "colored" compared to "white" Anglo-Saxons. Considered to be extremely derogatory.
Nigger Knocker – U.S., A white person that has sex with a black person.
Nigger Rich – U.S., A person of any race that spends money on flashy clothes and/or cars, but not on necessities.
Niglet – A young, usually under 10-years-old, black child.
Night fighter – U.S., a black person
Nig-nog – U.K., a black person (adapted from niknok, see below)
Niknok – Netherlands, Dutch word equivalent to nigger
Ninja – U.S., a Muslim woman. But also see Ninja.
Ninny – U.S., a black person (short for pickaninnie)
Nip – U.S., someone of Japanese descent (from Nippon, an Anglicization of the Japanese name for Japan)
Nish – Canada – an Aboriginal Canadian (from Anishinabe, the Ojibwa word for "Ojibwa")
Nordstrom Rack – U.S. midwestern blacks, White women with breast implants (fake breasts)
North Dallas 40 – Texas blacks, White women with breast implants (fake breasts)

O

Oaxaquilla – (Pronounced oajakija) Mexico, originally an term describing someone form the mexican state of Oaxaca has become a term term describing any person of native descent who is dark complected and speaks a native language
Octoroon – 19th century U.S., a person of 1/8 Black ancestry (also octoon)
Ofay – African Americans in Eastern U.S.(through early 1970s), a white person (pig latin for 'foe' or enemy)
Okie – 1930s California, an uprooted or evicted farmer fleeing to California to find a better life. It was a derisive term, immortalized in the historical fiction novel The Grapes of Wrath. Short for "Oklahoman".
Olive Nigger – Greeks (Greece is renowned for its olives.) Is also sometimes used for southern Italians.
Opie Cunningham – U.S. blacks, a white boy (coined by Eddie Murphy to describe Ron Howard)
oreo – U.S., someone of black and white descent (or a black person who "acts white" – see Carlton)
Oreo Cookie – U.S., someone of black and white descent (or a black person who "acts white" – see Carlton)
Osama – U.S., any Arab, turban-wearer, Muslim, Middle Easterner, South Asian or person of complexion similar to Middle Easterners or South Asians. An extremely derogatory slur. It is however an Arabic person name.
Outsider – Alaska, a person from the lower 48.
Oven dodger – Australia, a Jewish person

P

Paddy – U.K./U.S., an Irish person (from the popular Irish diminutive of "Patrick"); term is also sometimes used by Mexican-Americans – particularly in Southern California – to denote any white "Anglo", regardless of specific ethnic ancestry
Pahadi – Indian, a person living in the Himalayan foothills.
Papist – Protestants, a Roman Catholic person
Pakeha – Maori, a New Zealander of European descent (not necessarily widely-regarded as offensive)
Paki – U.K. and Canada, a Pakistani or other South Asian (regarded as offensive)
Palongi – Tongan, a White person (short for Papalongi).
Patel – U.S., a South Asian, especially an Indian, and particularly one who owns or manages a hotel or motel (Patel is a very common surname in the Indian state of Gujarat, located in the west-central part of the country, many immigrants from which own and operate lodging establishments in the U.S., especially small, independently-owned ones)
Payo – Spain, a non-Gypsy
Pea soup – Canada – a French-Canadian
Peckerwood – U.S., a white person, especially Southern whites
Pedigreed – U.S., racially & ethnically pure WASP
Pepsi or pepper – Anglophone Canadian, a French-Canadian (from popularity of Pepsi-Cola in Quebec, where this soft drink outsells Coca-Cola — possibly the only place in the world where this is true)
Perp – U.S., a black person - short for perpetrator (criminal suspect)
Pickaninnie, pickaninny – U.K./U.S., black child
pilgrim – African Americans in Eastern U.S.(currently in use), a white person
Pied Noir – French for "Black Feet", A Moroccan, Algerian or other North African
Piney – U.S. (New Jersey), a poor white person living in the sandy, coastal pine forests known as the Pine Barrens. Usually living in substandard housing or trailers in areas often hit by forest fires. An inferior form of white trash.
Pinko – Japan, a Russian person; also, US/Canada, social democrat
Polack – U.S., a person of Polish descent. German, Pole. Ironically, the word for "Pole" in the Polish language is "Polak".
Polaco, – Spain, a Catalan (literally "Polish")
Polar Bear – a big, fat, white person
Pole Humper – a Polish person
Pom, pommie, pommy – Australia/New Zealand/South Africa, a British national. Originally short for pomegranate (possibly). Also attributed as "Prisoner of Mother England". It is often used affectionately and is not usually considered offensive. Many English 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 whinging pom, a reference to British migrants who complained about their adopted country.
Pongo – U.K., a black person
Popolo – Hawaii, a black person
Porch honky – U.S., lazy white person
Porch monkey – U.S., a black person
Pork chop – U.S./Canada, a Portuguese person
Portagee – Eastern U.S., a person of Portuguese origin
Potato – Canada, a black person who "acts" like a white (brown on the outside, white on the inside).
Potato Eater – UK & North America, an Irish person or a person of Irish descent
Prairie nigger – U.S. and Canada as of late: a Native American or Canadian. Held to be in very poor taste if used around these people.
Previously Owned American – US - American black of slave descent.
Prod – Scotland, a Protestant
Proddy, Proddy dog – Australian Catholics (particularly school kids), term for Protestants, particularly rival kids from Protestant schools.
Psy – Poland, offensive for "police" (meaning dogs); earlier not universally recognised in all regions of Poland, popularised by the movie Psy
Punjab / Punjabi – U.S. - Reffering to people of Indian descent
Push start – U.S., someone of South Asian descent (from the Hindu practice of wearing bindis)

Q

Quadroon – 19th century U.S., a person of 1/4 Black ancestry. Now obsolete.
Quaker – a white person
Queue Jumper – Australia, illegal migrant
Quickie Mart – U.S., a convenience store operated by a person from Southwest Asia or the Subcontinent (from the Simpsons - see Apu)
Quintroon – 19th century U.S., a person of 1/16 Black ancestry. Now obsolete.

R

Rabbit – U.S., a black person, said to have rabbit blood.
Raghead – U.S., someone of Middle Eastern descent. U.K., a Sikh, or any East Indian.
Raisinette – U.S., a child born of a black-white, mixed race relationship.
Raton – France, a North African Muslim (from the French augmentative for "rat")
Ravo – Launceston, Tasmania, a bogan from the suburb of Ravenswood.
Red Fella – Russian person
Redneck – U.S., an rural, unrefined white person (esp. a person from a southern state)
Redskin – now obsolete, a Native American
Ricain – France, an American
Rican – U.S., a Puerto Rican
Rice king/queen – A white person who dates Asians.
Rice Nigger – Asians
Rice picker – a filipino, viet, cambodian, or any other south-east asian.
Ritz cracker – U.S., a rich caucasian man or woman
Roast beef or rosbif – France, a British person
Rock ape – U.K./Australia, a black person
Rock spider – English-speaking South Africans, an Afrikaner (although in Australia, rock spider means child molester)
Rooinek – Afrikaners, an English speaking South African
Rootless cosmopolitan (Russian: bezrodnyj kosmopolit) – Soviet Union (late Stalin era, 1948-1953), a Jew
Round eye – Asia, a white person
Round hair – U.S., a black person
Rug pilot – U.S., a person of Middle Eastern descent (from the image of the flying carpet)
Russki – U.S., a Russian national

S

Sambo – U.S./U.K., a black person
Sand monkey – U.S., someone of Middle Eastern descent
Sand Nazi – U.S./Israel, someone of Middle Eastern descent
Sand nigger – U.S./Israel, someone of Middle Eastern descent
Sapphire – U.S., an attractive black woman (from the Amos & Andy shows)
Scarecrow - US. a black person who skis
Schemie - UK. someone who lives in a Housing Scheme, i.e. a slum. Scottish in origin.
Schwarzer - Germany & U.S. (especially among American Jews), a black person
Schwoogie - US Northeast, esp. New York, a black person
Scotch - U.K. Commonwealth & US, a derisive term for Scots
Scuro – used by certain Italo-Canadians to refer to a black person ("scuro" is Italian for "dark")
Sea Kaffir - South African, person of Portuguese descent
Sephardi – International Ashkenazi Jewry, any non-Ashkenazi Jew. Not inherently vulgar nor derogatory, but considered ignorant when used towards true non-Sephardi Jews, particularly when referring to Mizrahi Jews. However, many Mizrahi Jews in modern Israel colloquially call themselves "Sephardi" anyway.
Seppo – Australia/U.K., an American (from septic tank, rhyming slang for yank)
Serabian – a Serbian.
Serburbian – a person of Serbian descent
Sernitz – Serbia, a black person
Shegetz - Jews, a young non-Jewish man
Sheister – U.S., a Jew . However, "shyster" today is more often a derogatory reference to lawyers, especially those of questionable ethics, regardless of their ethnic origin.
Sheeny – a Jew
Sheepfucker, sheepscrewer, sheepshagger and other variations on this theme – England, a Welshman; Australia, a New Zealander; USA, a Scot; etc.)
Shiksa - used as a disparaging term for a non-Jewish girl or woman
Shina – a Japanese term for "China" that most Chinese people find deeply offensive, while some Japanese people disagree
Shiptar – an Albanian person, also "shit-tar" is used.
Shit-kicker – U.S., a white person from the southwest (ex: Oklahoma)
Skunk – U.S., someone of Middle Eastern descent
Skinny – U.S., First (?) used in Starship Troopers for an alien race. Used by U.S. and other western militaries for Africans, especially Somalis.
Skip – Australian – a white Australian of British descent – from the TV show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Among ethnic youth, "skip" is the opposite of "wog".
Slant-eye, slit-eye – U.S., a person of Asian descent
Slapface – Australia, a person of Asian descent
Slapped A Yamulke – American, a person with stereotypical Jewish facial features, from "slapped with a yamulke" at birth
Slob – Russian, ie. person of Slavic heritage
Slope – a person of Asian descent
Snowback – U.S., a Canadian refugee who flees his/her Motherland for the warm climate of Florida.
Snow flake – U.S. blacks, a white person
Snowman – white person
Snow Mexican – U.S., An eskimo, from a stand-up comedy routine by Dave Attell
Snowplow – U.S., a black man's nose
Sons of Heaven – Australia, 19th century, Chinese
Soviet – a person from Russia.
Space Ghost – U.S. Asians, A white person perceived to have limited mental capacity. From a superhero character.
Spade – U.S., a black person (from the black spades on playing cards)
Spaghetti-bender – U.S., Italian
Spic or spick – U.S., a person of Hispanic descent - from "no spickie english"
Spook – U.S. whites, a black person
Spear-chucker – U.S. whites, a black person
Spudfucker U.S., an Irish person (from the famous Irish commodity, potatoes)
Spyski U.S., a person defected from Soviet Russia
Squarehead – A German or a Norwegian
Stani – a person from central asia with the country's name ending in "Stan" (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc.)
Sudaca – Spain, a Latin American, a play on sudamericano and sudar (to sweat)
Suicide Bomber – a Muslim Person
Surrender monkey – U.S., a French person
Sushi-chugger – U.S., a Caucasian American who likes to partake in oral sex with Japanese girls
Swamp honky – U.S. southwest, similar to white trash – white residents around the Louisiana/Texas border (also "swamp trash")
Swamp nigger – degrading term projected to Cajun people and people of the swamp.

T

Taffy – U.K., a Welsh person. From the Taff River or the name Dafydd. Children's rhyme: "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief."
Taig – Northern Ireland Protestants, a Catholic
Tar Baby – U.S., a black child
Tartar, Tar-Tar – U.K. & Canada, a Russian, from an offensive mispelling of "Tatar".
Telefono – Colombia – a black person. Term originated before the 1960's when the time when most telephones were colored black.
Tête carrée – Canada – a Canadian of British descent ("square head", used by French-Canadians)
Terrorist – a person from the Middle East, sometimes is used for a person from south eastern europe.
Terrier – U.S., an Irish laborer
Thanksgiving – U.S., a person of Turkish descent. Used solely as an adjective. ie. "Thanksgiving Muther-fucker".
Tommy – German, Used for the British in WW2
Tonto – U.S., a Native American (refers to the sidekick on "The Lone Ranger")
Toubab – France, an ethnically-French French person ("français de souche"), used by French of other backgrounds; the word comes from the Wolof language of Senegal
Towelhead – U.S., anyone who wears a head turban. Derisively applied towards Middle Easterners and Muslims, but rarely applied against people who wear other types of turbans.
Turban Cowboy – U.S. Southwest, a Middle Easterner or Muslim trying to assimilate into the local community
Turkish Love Slave – Armenian
Trailer trash – U.S., a rural white person living in a trailer park; cf. white trash
T.W.A.. U.S., a national of a developing country who works professionally in the U.S. Short for "Third World assassin".
T.W.E. – Eastern European (from Third-World-European) For short, "Tweety" is used.
Twinkie – U.S./Canada, an Asian person who is "yellow on the outside, white on the inside" (similar to "banana" above). Twinkie (slur) is also used by some American Indians to describe a white person who claims to be a American Indian, claiming to be a shaman, a healer, etc, with little or no connection to any tribe via social or blood links.

U

Ukie – Ukrainian. Also used by Ukrainians as an ironic term of endearment
Uncle Tom – U.S. blacks, term for someone who panders to white people; a "sellout" (taken from Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin")

V

Viet – a Vietnamese person
Vodka Pisser – Russian person
Vus-vus – Israel, an Ashkenazi Jew. Used by non-Ashkenazi Jews towards Ashkenazi immigrants to Israel during the mass-aliyah after World War II. From "Vus? Vus?" meaning "What? What?" in Yiddish.
Vut* – a Russian, because the russian immigrants said "vut" instead of "what" when asked something in english.

W

Wagonburner Canada, for native Canadians
Walpeople – U.S., working-class whites...from whites perceived to shop at Wal-Mart.
Wap – U.S., a white person who "acts" Japanese, by analogy to wigger.
Wasp – White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Offensiveness questionable as many "wasps" self-identify as such (originated as shorthand term in sociology)
Welfare monkey – U.S., a black person
Wetback, wetter – U.S., an illegal Mexican immigrant (presumably having swum across the Rio Grande),
Wetback Samoan – American Samoa, a Samoan from West Samoa who has moved to American Samoa (from "wetback" used for Mexicans in Texas, West Samoans must travel over a strait to reach American Samoa)
White boy – U.S., any white
White cracker – U.S., a white person
White Devil – U.S., (originated with Nation of Islam) a white person
White Negro – US/UK, an Irish immigrant
White Nigger – Southern US, an unrefined white person - see White Trash
White out – a bunch of white people
White trash, also poor white trash – U.S., an unrefined white person - usually poorly educated
Whitey – U.S., a white person
Whopper – Denmark, an American tourist - usually overweight, called after the popular hamburger
Wigger – U.S./U.K. a white person who "acts" black
Wiglet – U.S., a teenage or younger white person who is perceived to "act black"
Windchime – U.S., a black person (windchimes are hung out in the open) cf. apple
Wog – U.K., a dark-skinned national of a Colonial British colony; also Australia, an aborigine, or Mediterranean-European (especially Greek or Italian) person (or any foreigner). From the term "Gollywog". In Australia the term, once very offensive, has been appropriated by second-generation ethnic youth and is used humorously or with pride, as in "wog culture" and the successful comedy show Wogs Out of Work.
Wonder Bread Wop – U.S Italians; an Italian that acts white (does not make home-made pasta, did not grow up in italian neighborhood, does not have accent or does not use Italian-American slang, etc.).
Wop – U.S., an Italian immigrant (from guappo , although popular etymology gives the origin as: WithOut Passport) – although some reckon the acronym as "WithOut Papers" or "Without Official Papers", suggesting undocumented status (however, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe were far more likely to lack conclusive documentation than those from Italy during the peak period for immigration of both to the U.S., which straddled the late 19th and early 20th Centuries)
Wrap head – a person who wears a turban.

X

Xarnego or charnego – Catalonia, an immigrant from the rest of Spain, especially, Andalusia or Extremadura.

Y

Yank/Yankee – Originally used by the New York Dutch to refer to the English (Jan Kees means "John Cheese" in Dutch), it has gradually broadened in meaning. In the northern U.S., it means a traditional New Englander of English stock. In the southern U.S., it means any northerner. Outside the U.S., it means any American, as in "Yankee go home." Spelled "Yanqui" in Spanish. "Yankee" also is a signalling code for the letter Y.
Yankee Doodle, Americans
Yard ape – U.S., a black person; cf. porch monkey
Yellow Dog – U.S. Elite Southern whites, a term for southern whites of limited education (from the quote - "would vote for a yellow dog")
Yellow Fever – North America, a non-asian that prefers sex with Asians
Yellow Menace – U.S. white high-school students, Asian students with high test scores
Yellow Peril – Australia/New Zealand, an Asian immigrant
Yid – U.K., A Jewish person (came from Yiddish language)
Yo-yo – U.S., a black person (yo-yos hang from strings) cf. windchime
Yuca – Young Urban Cuban American, a term used to refer to Cuban-Americans with values and beliefs more similar to mainstream USA than to the values of their Cuban parents.
Yugo – a Yugoslav person (from the car "Yugo" which was cheap and broke down easily)
Yugoshit – A person from the former Yugoslavia, using the word "yugo" and saying literally "You go shit".

Z

Zerg – U.S., Korean (short for "KEKE~LA")
Zig – U.S., a black person (short for zigaboo)
Zigeunermischlinge – German, Nazi term for 'gypsy half-breeds'; predicated on idea of Aryan 'pure gypsies'
Zip – an Italian immigrant who is fresh of the boat.
Zhid – Russia and ex-USSR, a Jewish person (a Polish word for a Jew turned slur in Russian language)
Zipperflaps – Canada, generalization, an Asian person
Zipperhead – U.S., a Chinese person
Zebra – a partly white, partly black person
Zupfer – (pronounce: tsoopfah, meaning "plucker" in German) American, especially American soldier, in Lower Franconia, Germany

Offensive terms per nationality, groups the terms by nationality
Hate speech
List of sexual slurs
List of political epithets
List of common phrases based on stereotypes
List of words meaning outsider, foreigner or 'not one of us'
Term of disparagement
List of ethnic group names used as insults

External links

Racial slur Database : RSDB
The Racial Slur Database

Category:

Ethnic slurs

0-9

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Related articles

External links