# Have you used snigger in conversation?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 12, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431 "2010-11-12T15:08:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/1 "2010-11-12T15:08:55Z")
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”?
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/2 "2010-11-12T15:11:03Z")
I usually spell it snicker.
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### Author:  [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/3 "2010-11-12T15:22:32Z")
I’ve never even heard of it. IS it another spelling for snicker?
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### Author:  [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/4 "2010-11-12T15:34:56Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/5 "2010-11-12T15:39:12Z")
I agree with **Nava.** I spell, and say, it snicker.
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/6 "2010-11-12T15:40:11Z")
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”).
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### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/7 "2010-11-12T15:41:27Z")
I screwed up and said “vinegar” once. I’ll never do that again.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/8 "2010-11-12T16:23:41Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/9 "2010-11-12T17:03:57Z")
Another “snicker”-er here.
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### Author:  [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/10 "2010-11-12T17:09:59Z")
I said other since I am sure it’s snicker.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/11 "2010-11-12T17:20:55Z")
I once was doing laundry, and said, “my load of coloreds is done”. ☹
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### Author:  [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/12 "2010-11-12T17:58:22Z")
> [@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”).
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.
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### Author:  [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/13 "2010-11-12T18:05:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> Another “snicker”-er here.
Same here.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/14 "2010-11-12T18:20:42Z")
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_.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/15 "2010-11-12T18:21:30Z")
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!
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### Author:  [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/16 "2010-11-12T18:33:20Z")
_snigger_
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### Author:  [@Apollo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollo)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/17 "2010-11-12T18:42:57Z")
For fuck’s sake!
I Say Nigger Every Morning…It Makes My Teeth White
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jg2-2Fi6c](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jg2-2Fi6c)
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/18 "2010-11-12T18:50:05Z")
I never heard the word, only snicker.
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### Author:  [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/19 "2010-11-12T19:20:00Z")
> [@Apollo](#):
>
> For fuck’s sake!
>
> I Say Nigger Every Morning…It Makes My Teeth White
>
> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jg2-2Fi6c](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.
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### Author:  [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-used-snigger-in-conversation/560431/20 "2010-11-12T22:39:30Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#):
>
> 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.
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