# epithets for "American"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741 "2010-08-09T18:38:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/1 "2010-08-09T18:38:06Z")
As I am seeking factual answers, I trust this post is best placed in GQ. See much ado recently [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573903) about “Jap” and whether it is a pejorative term or not. Since “Jap” is derived from the English-language word for the country of Nippon (and “Nip” is derived directly from that word), in order for a Japanese person to be offended by it, they would have to have it explained to them first. With that in mind, what are some pejorative terms used by non-Americans to describe Americans, and how do those terms translate into English? Just as a first example, I had heard many years ago that “Americanskatos” was a Greek-language term that basically means “American shit.” I don’t know whether that was a joke or a real epithet, but you get the idea. What about other countries? What do anti-American folks in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, Russia, Norway and other places call us Americans when they’re in a foul mood? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/2 "2010-08-09T18:43:37Z")
Well, some of the terms used by non-Americans are in English, e.g., “[Seppo](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=seppo)” as used by some Australians (though not by me). Americans who find out the derivation are usually extremely offended by it, though it’s usually intended as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/3 "2010-08-09T19:03:20Z")
In Latin America, I think that the most common pejorative is _Yanqui._ While _gringo_ can also be used pejoratively, more typically it is used as a simple descriptive. (Here in Panama, both Panamanians and Americans refer to Americans as gringos, and no offense is usually meant or taken.) On the other hand, if _Yanqui_ is used it is almost always pejorative (except in reference to the baseball team). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/4 "2010-08-09T19:37:55Z")
In India, they generally just use “American.” If they want to be disparaging, they use intonation. “You A-meeeeri-cans!” Some of the more culturally hip will use “Yanks,” but it sounds more comical than disparaging. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/5 "2010-08-09T20:03:25Z")
Yanks here in the UK ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/6 "2010-08-09T20:03:36Z")
“Yanks” is probably the the most comon term used in england. I wouldn’t really consider it a pejorartive term, its more in line with ‘Jock’, ‘Taff’ and ‘Paddy’. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/7 "2010-08-09T20:06:20Z")
Also in the UK, there is a particular deadpan pronunciation of ‘American’ that usually indicates insult (if it’s not obvious from context) - it sounds the way Jeremy Clarkson always says it. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/8 "2010-08-09T20:58:26Z")
Online, but not offline, I have often seen “A merkin” used to annoy people from the USA. Of course, you have to know what a merkin is. Irish people generally like USAians, so we don’t have a disparaging term for them. We are a courteous people and we don’t have a history of nicknames for most foreigners - just the Brits. We meet some cultured Americans, but most lack knowledge of the world and its people outside the USA. The Irish find this strange, as we are very aware of the world around us, and we see a lot of it. (My family has been to half the UN countries.) Most of all, many USAians (like many Australians) have difficulty in detecting understated wit as opposed to broad humour. They literally don’t know when Europeans are joking. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/9 "2010-08-09T23:59:39Z")
Whatever happened to “Running Dogs” ?? Supposedly used by 60’s Commies? . ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/10 "2010-08-10T01:08:03Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > We meet some cultured Americans, but most lack knowledge of the world and its people outside the USA. The Irish find this strange, as we are very aware of the world around us, and we see a lot of it. (My family has been to half the UN countries.) I can’t really dispute this; Americans can be somewhat sequestered. But do remember that someone from Kansas has to travel about 1700 miles (2375 km) to get to the nearest foreign country. I do lament the poor coverage of international news here, unless it’s a major catastrophe. (Our media seem quite keen on sensationalizing disasters, both domestic and abroad.) Sometimes I watch BBC programs to see how the world views the U.S., which is quite different than how the U.S. views itself. BTW you have to admit it is quite unusual for anyone to have visited 81 countries, regardless of where they’re from. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/11 "2010-08-10T01:25:52Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Yanks here in the UK Really? Is it always (or mostly) said as a pejorative? Maybe I’ve been missing things, but it seems like I generally hear it as a simple abbreviation. The way we would use “Brit”, which is neutral, unless the context says otherwise. I think of “colonials” as more pejorative, but maybe that’s generally said tongue-in-cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/12 "2010-08-10T01:44:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Mangetout](#): > > > > Yanks here in the UK > > Really? Is it always (or mostly) said as a pejorative? Maybe I’ve been missing things, but it seems like I generally hear it as a simple abbreviation. The way we would use “Brit”, which is neutral, unless the context says otherwise. Is Limey always negative? I’ve heard it said, but took it as a gentle ribbing at most. Is Limey offensive, even though it’s outdated? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/13 "2010-08-10T02:12:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In Latin America, I think that the most common pejorative is _Yanqui._ While _gringo_ can also be used pejoratively, more typically it is used as a simple descriptive. (Here in Panama, both Panamanians and Americans refer to Americans as gringos, and no offense is usually meant or taken.) On the other hand, if _Yanqui_ is used it is almost always pejorative (except in reference to the baseball team). Out of curiosity, is _guero_ used much in South America (or southern Central America)? It seems to about the same level of usually neutral but possibly offensive (restricted mainly to white people, though) in the US and presumably Mexico, since I’ve heard it only from Mexicans or Mexican-Americans. _Pinche guero_ is undeniably offensive — I actually saw this printed on a bumper sticker in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/14 "2010-08-10T02:21:07Z")
In my experience, Yank in Britain is more of a playful nickname than a pejorative. I certainly wouldn’t take offense, unless it was from someone I didn’t know, followed by another epithet. (“You Yank bastard” or summat.) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/15 "2010-08-10T02:32:04Z")
Aside from those given above, there was a poster that used to call American’s ‘USers’ quite a bit. Then there is the always popular ‘Amerikan’, said in a slightly Eastern European accent… I’ve heard the yank thing quite a bit (and it’s definitely not always the seemingly playful think some posters here are making it out to be, especially not in a bar by some bloke getting ready to sock you in the eye because his woman has been talking to you too much), and as noted there are several pungent phrases from Latin American. But mostly, people just call us ‘American’, and it’s the tone and context that. FWIW, I found [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs) Wiki article on some rather nasty ethnic slurs (open at your own risk), and there doesn’t seem to be much in there regarding what non-Americans call Americans…though there are some rather colorful ones concerning stuff we call each other. ‘Ugly American’ was the only one I saw that really pertained to the OP, and that’s pretty lame. -XT ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/16 "2010-08-10T02:35:48Z")
I would think for many countries, simply calling someone an “American” would be pretty pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/17 "2010-08-10T02:47:43Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > “Yanks” is probably the the most comon term used in england. I wouldn’t really consider it a pejorartive term, its more in line with ‘Jock’, ‘Taff’ and ‘Paddy’. Are you saying that calling an Irishman “Paddy” is neutral, not offensive, or not _always_ offensive? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/18 "2010-08-10T03:17:58Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Well, some of the terms used by non-Americans are in English, e.g., “[Seppo](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=seppo)” as used by some Australians (though not by me). Americans who find out the derivation are usually extremely offended by it, though it’s usually intended as a joke. I have never, in 43 years of growing up and living here seen anyone wear a hat with corks hanging from the brim or call an American a Seppo, except as displays of, or discussions about, what Australians supposedly do or say. They are both weird little supposed cultural indicators with no real basis. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/19 "2010-08-10T03:25:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Yanks here in the UK Only if “Yank” is the polite form of “septic.” And septic is really f-ing insulting, especially when used on an American that doesn’t know what it means. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/20 "2010-08-10T03:30:52Z")
I have to admit, I’ve never had anyone call me ‘septic’. [Looked](http://septicscompanion.com/showletter.php?letter=all) it up though: > [@](#): > > septic: n American: Hey, did you hear Bob had moved to New York and married a septic? From Cockney rhyming slang “septic tank” / “yank,” where “yank” is in turn used in the U.K. to mean “American.” If you don’t believe me, look it up, but I have to warn you that I also wrote that definition. The Australians use the same term and have further abbreviated septic to “seppo.” -XT [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741.md?page=2)