# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/41 "2010-08-10T17:07:15Z")
> [@qpw3141](#): > > > [@mascaroni](#): > > > > Nonsense. The word is, if anything, a rather affectionate nickname for the Irish. > > You should be careful of calling other people’s assertions ‘nonsense’ just because they are not true of your own experience. > > It’s certainly true that the term ‘paddy’ can be, and has been, used offensively although, of course, it’s more general use merely observes the popularity of the name Patrick (or Pádraig) with Irish families. And may I just say that I only _now_ understand why they used to call police vans “Paddy Wagons”? Because the stereotypical American city police officer from the turn of the 20th century was an Irish guy named “Officer Patrick O’Brien” or something similar. Not sure of any serious foreign slang that is derogatorily aimed at Americans specifically, but I understand that the Japanese “Gaijin” for “Outsider” can be used as such in context. I’m trying to remember if any such slang existed in Mandarin when I was learning it, but if anything exists, our instructors were careful not to teach it to us (though they did slip up and teach us how to call somebody a half-wit: “Erbaiwu”, which translates literally as “Two Hundred and Fifty”. Hey, not all colloquialisms make sense. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/42 "2010-08-10T17:14:04Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Not sure of any serious foreign slang that is derogatorily aimed at Americans specifically, but I understand that the Japanese “Gaijin” for “Outsider” can be used as such in context. I’m trying to remember if any such slang existed in Mandarin when I was learning it, but if anything exists, our instructors were careful not to teach it to us (though they did slip up and teach us how to call somebody a half-wit: “Erbaiwu”, which translates literally as “Two Hundred and Fifty”. In Hong Kong at least, the stereotypical derogative word for “white guy” is “gwailo” (meaning ghost person) ETA : apparently, that’s Cantonese rather than Mandarin, though. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/43 "2010-08-10T18:41:47Z")
> [@qpw3141](#): > > > [@mascaroni](#): > > > > Anyone’s experience is limited. I work in construction and have been in contact with plenty of Irish people. I stand by my assertion that ‘Paddy’ has no more negative association than ‘Jock’ or ‘Taff’. Or ‘Cockney’, ‘Scouse’, ‘Manc’ or ‘Geordie’. > > > > ‘Mick’ is always a derogatory term. > > Again, these may well hold for your experience but that is not the experience of everyone. > > Do you really believe that if there was, say, a meeting of university vice chancellors and someone referred to the Irish members as ‘the paddies’, it could be taken as anything other than a gross insult? > > I’m sure that construction is an area where people are very ‘robust’ in their speech. I take your point… it’s probably not office language. The language might be more robust in construction but I’ll reiterate that it is a nickname, rather than a racist slur. IMHO to equate the word ‘Paddy’ with 'The ‘N-Word’ is nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![qpw3141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6bbea6/32.png) [@qpw3141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qpw3141)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/44 "2010-08-10T18:52:52Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > IMHO to equate the word ‘Paddy’ with 'The ‘N-Word’ is nonsense. Yes, no argument there - at least, not from me. ‘Paddy’ belongs to that group of words the use of which varies from entirely friendly to (possibly unintentionally) mildly insulting. The ‘n’ word, which is so offensive that a lot of people won’t write it in full, even in quotation marks, is an entirely different kettle of fish. ---
**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 10, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/45 "2010-08-10T19:16:33Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > And may I just say that I only _now_ understand why they used to call police vans “Paddy Wagons”? Because the stereotypical American city police officer from the turn of the 20th century was an Irish guy named “Officer Patrick O’Brien” or something similar. I think it more likely refers to the stereotypical occupants of the back of the van, rather than the policeman driving it.😉 Merriam-Webster lists [Paddy](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paddy) as “often offensive.” ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/46 "2010-08-10T19:16:59Z")
I’ve been called a Yankee a few times and have to stop myself from saying; “no, I’m from the south.” Would have just confused the situation. ---
**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 10, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/47 "2010-08-10T19:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > IMHO to equate the word ‘Paddy’ with 'The ‘N-Word’ is nonsense. I fully agree, as you will see, if you read my original comment. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/48 "2010-08-10T19:28:11Z")
A German poster might be able to verify but I believe the term “Ami” is something just pejoratively in Germany for American. “Go Home Ami” was a common slogan at one time I think. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/49 "2010-08-10T20:13:57Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > IMHO to equate the word ‘Paddy’ with 'The ‘N-Word’ is nonsense. > > I fully agree, as you will see, if you read my original comment. _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._ is this a whoosh, Paddy? ---
**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, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/50 "2010-08-10T20:31:38Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > > [@Princhester](#): > > > > 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. > > I’ve not heard it spoken, but I’ve seen it often enough in writing, on Internet forums where a lot of Australians hang out. I heard it a few times visiting in Australia, and more with Australians abroad. As noted above, at least in my personal experience, “seppo” was \*generally \*used endearingly or in a good natured piss taking way. One bloke in King’s Cross certainly was using it as a slur. ---
**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, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/51 "2010-08-10T20:35:22Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > In Hong Kong at least, the stereotypical derogative word for “white guy” is “gwailo” (meaning ghost person) > > ETA : apparently, that’s Cantonese rather than Mandarin, though. That one is very common but less so than it was 20 years ago. The “ghost” part is what makes it clearly a bad term as “ghost” in Chinese \*always \*has a negative connotation. Chinese dialects are full of slang. Taiwanese (especially little kids) can refer to foreigners as “pointy nose.” The Shanghaiese call everyone a “target” as in the kind of target you use for target shooting. You’ll hear Shanghaiese saying “Japanese target” “American target”, etc and it implies they aren’t a local so fair game. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/52 "2010-08-10T20:43:44Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > 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. My lefty friends here in Canada call them Merkins all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/53 "2010-08-10T21:38:48Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > A German poster might be able to verify but I believe the term “Ami” is something just pejoratively in Germany for American. “Go Home Ami” was a common slogan at one time I think. Yes, _Ami_ is a colloquial term for _Amerikaner_ that can serve as a pejorative epithet - but depending on context it can be neutral-colloquial or even affectionate. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/54 "2010-08-11T07:05:47Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > 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, My only knowledge of the term comes from the 12th Man records. The Pakstanis injure themselves after mucking up a high-five, which Richie scornfully describes as “just a bit of Seppo bullshit that the West Indies have introduced into the game” ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/55 "2010-08-11T09:08:19Z")
[QUOTE=Michael of Lucan] Most of all, many USAians (like many Australians) have difficulty in detecting understated wit as opposed to broad humour. [/quote] > [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > You should be courteous when making comments which may be based on limited experience. Indeed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AutumnLeaves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AutumnLeaves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AutumnLeaves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/56 "2010-08-11T09:38:59Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Here in France, they’re sometimes called “les ricains”, an obvious diminutive for “américains”. Not pejorative that I know of, although I guess it’s sort of dismissive. I’m living in France as well right now and I hear this term often. Like you say though (and this has been my experience in many of the countries I’ve lived in) when foreign people talk about Americans, it’s usually more dismissive than anything, not malicious. But I’m Canadian so perhaps they figure I’ll share the sentiments. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/57 "2010-08-11T11:02:51Z")
> [@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’. Not in the slightest bit pejorative. That’s what the word ‘bloody’ is for. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/58 "2010-08-11T11:04:00Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > 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? ‘Limey’ isn’t offensive. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/59 "2010-08-11T11:06:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > > [@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. ‘septic tank, yank’ is just cockney rhyming slang and not offensive. But any term can become that with the right context and intonation. ---
**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 11, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741/60 "2010-08-11T11:30:46Z")
> [@Jervoise](#): > > [QUOTE=Michael of Lucan] > Most of all, many USAians (like many Australians) have difficulty in detecting understated wit as opposed to broad humour. > [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > You should be courteous when making comments which may be based on limited experience. Indeed. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] I have worked for a US corporation for many years. I previously worked for an Australian corporation for many years. I have travelled all over the world in my six decades of life. I guess have probably met several thousand USAians and Australians, and got to know hundreds of them personally at work and socially. Of course, every country has a huge range of personality types. However, it is definitely my experience that persons from those two countries have a different sense of humour from the European norm. It’s a perfectly valid sense of humour, just based on different cultural expectations. It’s broader humour, and often less subtle. At meetings and social gatherings, they seem to miss witty comments, which seem obviously humourous to Europeans. This can lead to serious misunderstanding and unhappiness, when wit is taken as serious comment. Sometimes you can be divided by the same language. Your sarcasm seems misplaced. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epithets-for-american/549741.md?page=4)