# Assuming Jewish word like Gentile is not derogatory; are there other cultures/language with such word/s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433 "2022-10-18T15:10:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/1 "2022-10-18T15:10:44Z")
My introduction to words like Gentile have been through Seinfeld and Curb your Enthusiasm. I maybe wrong but my reading on the internet has shown these words to be not derogatory. I find it fascinating that Jews have non derogatory words for Now - Jews. Do other religions / cultures have such words (that are not derogatory)? I am looking for factual answers / examples only. Not looking for hyphenated words like non-Christian, or non-Muslim or non-Hindu ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/2 "2022-10-18T15:12:14Z")
Shiksa is derogatory. Gentile isn’t, though. ---
**Author:** ![Joeu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joeu/32/2911_2.png) [@Joeu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joeu)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/3 "2022-10-18T15:17:41Z")
I have to question your assumption. People (on the internet) may **claim** that _shiksa_ is not derogatory. But it always is, at least to some degree, in my experience. Gentile is not really derogatory, but also not so much the word that Jewish people would use. For that we use _goy_ (plural _goyim_, adjective _goyishe_). It might be sometimes, rarely, just descriptive (it comes from the Hebrew word for “nation” meaning “nation other than ours”). But I would argue that in connotation, it’s always got at least a derogatory tinge. (_Goyishe kop_ (gentile head) is definitely not neutral, not a compliment) I don’t have much experience with other languages but wonder about _yanqui_. Is that ever non-derogatory? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/4 "2022-10-18T15:18:22Z")
My understanding is that the word “goy” (plural “goyim”) has a similar definition to “Gentile” (and I’m not sure if it’s Yiddish or Hebrew), but it also appears to be at least somewhat derogatory. _Edit: ninja’d by @Joeu !_ ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/5 "2022-10-18T15:19:46Z")
@puzzlegal and @Joeu Thank you. I have deleted the word Siksha. I really want to know about other religions / cultures that have non - zenophobic words like “gentiles”. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/6 "2022-10-18T15:23:49Z")
I have a Greek friend and I asked her a while back what do they call non-Greeks and she said “[Xenos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenos_(Greek)).” She didn’t indicate it was a derogatory word. The Amish refer to non-Amish as English, and it’s not derogatory. It’s just the word for non-Amish. ---
**Author:** ![Joeu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joeu/32/2911_2.png) [@Joeu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joeu)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/7 "2022-10-18T15:24:57Z")
I do see your question, and not trying to nitpick, but gentile is not really a Jewish word–neither as a religion or a culture. It’s not a regional/cultural/local word at all. EDIT–but what about _yanqui_? Is there a native Spanish speaker who can attest to that? I know _gringo_ is always derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/8 "2022-10-18T15:30:04Z")
I suspect that most languages have words for “not us” that can be used either neutrally or derogatorily. Japanese has foreigner (gai-koku-jin) and also “gai-jin” which literally means outsider but is just a more casual way of saying foreigner. Gai-jin is the more likely of the two to be used in a negative way – or in a more personal way. If someone were to say “I am more attracted to foreigners” or “I don’t like foreigners” they would probably use gai-jin. Gai-koku-jin sounds pretty formal and stiff to me. The kind of word you hear on newscasts and in government documents. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/9 "2022-10-18T15:58:09Z")
I believe the ancient Greek word _barbaros_ - which more or less means ‘people who aren’t us’ and from which we get ‘barbarian’ - originally had a fairly neutral connotation. Over time it became more derisive. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/10 "2022-10-18T16:00:22Z")
I would think the word “barbaros” was derogatory from the get-go, meaning people who don’t speak Greek and only say “Bar-bar-bar” (according to the ancient Greeks’ ears). ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/11 "2022-10-18T16:36:24Z")
The Thai call foreigners, “Farang”, or perhaps just white foreigners. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/12 "2022-10-18T16:40:30Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > The Thai call foreigners, “Farang That is considered derogatory in India. It comes from Persia and means the Francs, white people from the crusades. > **[Farang](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang)** > > Farang (Persian: فرنگ) is a Persian word that originally referred to the Franks (the major Germanic people) and later came to refer to Western or Latin Europeans in general. The word is borrowed from Old French franc or Latin francus, which are also the source of Modern English France, French. > The Western European and Islamic worlds came into prolonged contact with each other during the crusades and the establishment of the Crusader states. Many crusaders spoke (Old) French and were from the ter... ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/13 "2022-10-18T16:52:15Z")
Haole from Hawaii? I guess it can be derogatory, but I think it’s mostly descriptive. But then, I’m a white boy from Maine, so what do I know. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/14 "2022-10-18T16:55:06Z")
> [@Joeu](#): > > I don’t have much experience with other languages but wonder about _yanqui_. Is that ever non-derogatory? “Yankee” in English is generally derogatory. Non-Americans use it to describe Americans. In America, Southerners use it to describe Northerners. In the North, it’s used for New Englanders. In New England, it’s used for up-country residents. It’s only recently that some people self-identify as Yankees rather than use it on others. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/15 "2022-10-18T18:39:37Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > “Yankee” in English is generally derogatory. Not so much. And I have no issue with “Yank” by my friends from Down Under (maybe that’s derogatory?) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/16 "2022-10-18T18:43:42Z")
The Roma people refer to non-Roma as _gorja_. I don’t know if it’s derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/17 "2022-10-18T18:52:46Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > “Yankee” in English is generally derogatory. Within the United States, it is generally not derogatory. It’s more of a humorous thing, as well as a sports thing, the New Yok Yankees being one of the most popular teams in professional baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/18 "2022-10-18T18:54:53Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > the New Yok Yankees being one of the most popular teams in professional baseball. And despised. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/19 "2022-10-18T19:18:11Z")
I also wouldn’t use sports team names as a standard for derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433/20 "2022-10-18T19:28:04Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > “Yankee” in English is generally derogatory. > > Within the United States, it is generally not derogatory. It’s more of a humorous thing, as well as a sports thing, the New Yok Yankees being one of the most popular teams in professional baseball.   It’s not insulting, but general usage of “Yankee” was always to describe an outgroup. Often while making a complaint about that outgroup–that is in a negative sense. It’s been steadily losing the negative connotation since WWII, but it’s still rare for people to self-identify as a Yankee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433.md?page=2)