Have you used snigger in conversation?

[Annie-Xmas]

Since we've covered the other niggardly (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13134250&posted=1#post13134250) over here, what about this other word that contains "the N word"?

[Nava]

I usually spell it snicker.

[Rushgeekgirl]

I've never even heard of it. IS it another spelling for snicker?

[Ximenean]

The problem with "niggardly" (and I speak as someone who voted "would use it", not that I actually remember ever having done) is that it is an uncommon word that sounds very much like "niggerly", which presumably would mean something like "in the manner of a nigger".
There's no such confusion with "snigger". It is a common word here (the British equivalent of "snicker") and I don't think I've even noticed before that it has the letters n-i-g-g-e-r in it. There's no controversy surrounding the word.

[Paintcharge]

I agree with Nava. I spell, and say, it snicker.

[Malacandra]

I noticed the included letters when I posted the word on another message board and the nannyware modified it to "s(BAN ME!)".

Yes, it's British for "snicker", a word we never use (except in the plural when referring to a chocolate bar which we used to know and love as "Marathon").

[Contrapuntal]

I screwed up and said "vinegar" once. I'll never do that again.

[Chefguy]

I've used it, usually referring to someone who is laughing in a mean way, and accompanied by the word "fool". As in "Glen Beck is a sniggering fool." The character of Kevin on The Office is a sniggerer.

[ZipperJJ]

Another "snicker"-er here.

[perfectparanoia]

I said other since I am sure it's snicker.

[kayaker]

I once was doing laundry, and said, "my load of coloreds is done". :(

[SciFiSam]

I noticed the included letters when I posted the word on another message board and the nannyware modified it to "s(BAN ME!)".

Yes, it's British for "snicker", a word we never use (except in the plural when referring to a chocolate bar which we used to know and love as "Marathon").

A (British) board I used to go on automatically changed it to 'sblackperson' and the moderators were extremely annoyed when everyone found this amusing and kept sblackpersoning all over the board.

[Omega Glory]

Another "snicker"-er here.

Same here.

[Bosstone]

Snicker and snigger are slightly different to me. Snicker is a slightly more neutral connotation, and I'll frequently use it instead of giggle when referring to myself laughing because giggling is more feminine or girlish. Snigger is far further down the mean end of the scale.

Still, I personally rarely use it. I think the last time I saw snigger in print was in Redwall.

[Tom Scud]

Didn't realize it was a British/US divide; my own mental categorization of the two words had "snigger" as slightly more derisive and unfriendly than "snicker". You could "snicker" at a joke but pretty much only "snigger" at a person.

ETA: damn you, Bosstone!

[sandra_nz]

*snigger*

[Apollo]

For fuck's sake!

I Say Nigger Every Morning...It Makes My Teeth White

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jg2-2Fi6c

[Harmonious Discord]

I never heard the word, only snicker.

[Nzinga, Seated]

For fuck's sake!

I Say Nigger Every Morning...It Makes My Teeth White

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jg2-2Fi6c

As much as I love that quote, (Mooney can be hilarious at times) my favorite 'nigger' bit by a comedian was by a young black dude who's name I don't even remember.

He goes on about how white folks are the ones that are sensitive about the word nowadays. He says he and his friends were once in a diner and talking:

"Nigga this, nigga that, nigga, what,?? Nigga, shit, Nigga please, nigga,nigganigganigganigga"

And this white guy turns around and shouts, "EEEEEEENOUGH! I've had just about enough!"

Hahahahaaaaa! That cracks me up so good. Ahem. Probably had to be there.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

As much as I love that quote, (Mooney can be hilarious at times) my favorite 'nigger' bit by a comedian was by a young black dude who's name I don't even remember.

He goes on about how white folks are the ones that are sensitive about the word nowadays. He says he and his friends were once in a diner and talking:

"Nigga this, nigga that, nigga, what,?? Nigga, shit, Nigga please, nigga,nigganigganigganigga"

And this white guy turns around and shouts, "EEEEEEENOUGH! I've had just about enough!"

Hahahahaaaaa! That cracks me up so good. Ahem. Probably had to be there.

That would annoy me as well. I often hear black teen guys speaking like that on the subway and it is just so crass, and for lack of a better term, stupid. It's no different than two white frat boys who say "fuckin" this and "fuckin" that all the time. It's a lazy and uneducated way of speaking.

[Chefguy]

I said other since I am sure it's snicker.

I'm sure you're wrong (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snigger), but they are synonymous.

[Enderw24]

I don't even let my wife yell at me for fear of being branded a racist.

Goddamn nagger gotta learn her place.

[Malacandra]

"No, she's a cute little white gal, but our third child was a nagger, an' that's why I want a day-vorce".

[Antinor01]

Snicker and snigger are slightly different to me. Snicker is a slightly more neutral connotation, and I'll frequently use it instead of giggle when referring to myself laughing because giggling is more feminine or girlish. Snigger is far further down the mean end of the scale.

Still, I personally rarely use it. I think the last time I saw snigger in print was in Redwall.

Same here, except that I've never read Redwall.

[AskNott]

I use the word, but I spell it, and say it, with a "ck" in the middle. I always got the impression that sniggering would cause you to be embarrassed if your Mom saw you doing it.

[Cunctator]

I use it. It's a useful word to describe a specific type of laughter.

[rhubarbarin]

I would never say it because most people I talk to probably don't know the word. However I've used it in writing a fair amount. I like it much better than snicker. Which, BTW, doesn't read as the same thing to me. Snickering is a laugh that sounds a certain way (in my head).

[Zsofia]

I use both "snigger" and "snicker" - they're different words to me. I'd never even thought about the fact that people might think I meant sblackperson.

Hilariously, the guy who was reading out the descriptions of baskets they were raffling off at our inservice day yesterday - I don't know what the hell he said, but our whole table was sure he said "nigger". It was an artistic basket, full of work by "artists, photographers, niggers, and painters". I KNOW, obviously, he didn't say what we thought he said - but what on earth did he actually say?

[Evil Captor]

I have on a couple of occasions run thorugh synonyms for "laugh" when I was talking for some reason, which would include "snigger" along with chortle, guffaw and titter.

[BigT]

Oh, I voted wrong. I use snicker, not snigger. Heck, Firefox doesn't even consider it a legitimate word. But I wouldn't have a problem with snigger because of two things: one, the letter S is the easiest consonant in the world to hear, and, two, I've never encountered anyone who tried to use it as a way to sneak a bad word into a conversation.

[Novelty Bobble]

UK here, I voted yes.

Very, very common over here and have never even noticed a similarity to other less well-regarded words.

It is useful as it describes a specific type of laughter (Scooby-do "sniggers") and other words like "snicker" don't work (Mutley "snickers").

Another word we use a lot is "niggle" or "niggled". Again, very specific and useful and I can't ever recall anyone taking the slightest offence or notice of any of the above.

Context is everything, it is the reason I can use "cock" "balls" "chink" "spick" and "fanny" in certain situations (though rarely in the same sentence) and expect reasonable people not to be offended.

[SciFiSam]

I use both "snigger" and "snicker" - they're different words to me. I'd never even thought about the fact that people might think I meant sblackperson.

Hilariously, the guy who was reading out the descriptions of baskets they were raffling off at our inservice day yesterday - I don't know what the hell he said, but our whole table was sure he said "nigger". It was an artistic basket, full of work by "artists, photographers, niggers, and painters". I KNOW, obviously, he didn't say what we thought he said - but what on earth did he actually say?

Knitters?

[Malacandra]

Oh, I voted wrong. I use snicker, not snigger. Heck, Firefox doesn't even consider it a legitimate word. But I wouldn't have a problem with snigger because of two things: one, the letter S is the easiest consonant in the world to hear, and, two, I've never encountered anyone who tried to use it as a way to sneak a bad word into a conversation.

"Let's see if the censor catches this one!" Tom sniggered.

[Sigmagirl]

I don't think it's offensive, but it just doesn't come up for me. All that it brings to mind is My Fair Lady:

Eliza: Here! What are you sniggering at?
Freddy: The new small talk, you do it so awfully well.
Eliza: Well if I was doing it proper, what was you sniggering at? Have I said anything I oughtn't?

[Zsofia]

Knitters?
Knitters! Of course! Knitters! We couldn't figure that out for love nor money!

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Didn't realize it was a British/US divide; my own mental categorization of the two words had "snigger" as slightly more derisive and unfriendly than "snicker". You could "snicker" at a joke but pretty much only "snigger" at a person.

ETA: damn you, Bosstone!

Same here.

[drastic_quench]

Never! I keep a pet capuchin on my porch, but I refer to him as the verandah primate just to be safe.

[sisu]

Snigger yes, Snicker is a chocolate bar.

[Nava]

I once was doing laundry, and said, "my load of coloreds is done". :(

Let's hope you didn't have any bleeding reds...

[Chopper9760]

I use snigger and snicker in slightly different ways.

I agree with the Scooby-do reference, that's a good snigger. While I wouldn't call it malicious, I always get the impression that the one sniggering is getting some enjoyment out of someone's misfortune or maybe just gleeful over mischief.

To me a snicker is merely a sarcastic laugh. Like a derisive snort or huff. Depending on context though it can mean exactly the same thing as snigger.

Never heard the Brit/US thing, interesting.

[Apollyon]

It is useful as it describes a specific type of laughter (Scooby-do "sniggers") and other words like "snicker" don't work (Mutley "snickers").I'm not quite sure from your phrasing if we're actually disagreeing, but... I'd argue that Muttley's laugh is just about the perfect demonstration of sniggering... a sort of contemptuous snorting giggle that would accompany the latest spectacular failure of Dastardly's foolproof plan. (And that Scooby's laugh is more of a snicker... just because Scooby is nicer). :P

NZ English is heavily UK based but with a strong US influence (pretty much post-WWII) from the entertainment industry... snigger seems completely normal and harmless to me (with no other connections or overtones). Snicker is less common (other than for the Mars company's peanut-stuffed novelty bar) but it wouldn't seem out of place.

That said, if I saw "snicker" without the context of a laugh I'd probably say it was a reference to a swishing, cutting sound, as in: "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!"