# Innocent words that happen to contain "the n word"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 18, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592 "2007-05-18T13:53:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/21 "2007-05-18T21:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk]
dead honky.
[/QUOTE]
Lol.
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### Author:  [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/22 "2007-05-18T21:48:41Z")
I was living in D.C. at the time of [the niggardly incident](http://www.adversity.net/special/niggardly.htm) , and I’m still pissed.
(edit: pissed, of course, at the completely ridiculous reaction to the word which has a completely different etymological origin than “nigger.”)
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/23 "2007-05-18T22:35:39Z")
[Mrs. Niggerbaiter.](http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/niggerbt.htm)
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### Author:  [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/24 "2007-05-18T23:30:50Z")
I was once, at about age 8, reciting aloud from a book of children-appropriate limericks. I was just talking to hear myself talk, not reciting in front of a crowd, just my mom. I don’t remember the whole limerick, just the first 2 lines :
There once was a man from Niger
Who (something something) a tiger
I guess I was unclear on the rules of spelling, so I pronounced the word wrong. My Mom knew I was simply mistake, but was mortified nonetheless…
Joe
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/25 "2007-05-19T01:08:50Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas]
which mentions "snigger"and “niggardly.”
.
[/QUOTE]
Am i the first to note that “nigg **a** rdly” does not contain “nigg **e** r”? 😕
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### Author:  [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/26 "2007-05-19T01:11:05Z")
When you’re a Call of Cthulhu fan, you have to be careful who’s around when you start talking about Shub-Niggurath…
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### Author:  [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/27 "2007-05-19T02:11:59Z")
At work, we have a filter for movie titles to try to block miscategorized porn titles (ecommerce site, deep catalog products are set up by an automated feed). It works by matching on key words that might indicate the title is porn: cock, pussy, etc.
It took us a while to figure out where all the Alfred Hitchcock movies went.
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### Author:  [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/28 "2007-05-19T02:54:11Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#):
>
> Apparently some people find the word “chigger” offensive, presumably because it rhymes with the forbidden ‘N’ word. Or maybe there is a bigger – er, excuse me, larger – reason.
> [QUOTE=Miller]
> You’d think there would be, but I just can’t figger it out.
[/quote]
Tigger can.
🆒
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/29 "2007-05-19T14:34:32Z")
[QUOTE=toadbriar]
It’s probably not a good idea call someone a reneger.
[/QUOTE]
I called my mom’s (at the time) boss’s African American husband a “reneger” once years ago. We were playing chess and he reneged on a move and I teased him about it. A bit later my mom came in and asked who was winning and I said “The reneger” not realizing what it would sound like. Never has an apology been so quick or so panickedly babbled.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/30 "2007-05-19T17:21:49Z")
“Negro”, if you’re speaking Spanish, maybe?
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### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/31 "2007-05-24T20:31:36Z")
[QUOTE=silenus]
Paraguayan toes? 😃
[/QUOTE]
and Brazil nuts are… :eek:
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### Author:  [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/32 "2007-05-24T20:52:11Z")
I have a friend who’s first name is Neggar, so it’s best not to shout after her, in case anybody thinks they’re being denigrated.
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### Author:  [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/33 "2007-05-24T21:03:55Z")
[QUOTE=ouryL]
and Brazil nuts are… :eek:
[/QUOTE]
n----- toes.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/34 "2007-05-24T21:17:38Z")
I remember a candy shapped like chocolate babies only out of black liquorice and called (insert word here) babies.
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### Author:  [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/35 "2007-05-24T21:24:59Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas]
I remember a candy shapped like chocolate babies only out of black liquorice and called (insert word here) babies.
[/QUOTE]
I love those! You can still buy 'em under the name [Licorice Babies](http://www.candydirect.com/bulk/Licorice-Babies.html).
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### Author:  [@Potato\_Pancakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potato_Pancakes)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/36 "2007-05-24T21:27:00Z")
Niger, please!
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### Author:  [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/37 "2007-05-24T21:31:16Z")
I heard this, but it sounds UL-ish. Niger Seed is spelled Nyjer Seed on seed packets at places like Home Depot.
Then again, [this may be true](http://www.ebirdseed.com/nyjer_niger_thistle_birdseed.html)
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### Author:  [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/38 "2007-05-24T21:52:01Z")
Well faggots can be quite tasty (Eve, back me up here).
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### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/39 "2007-05-24T21:55:08Z")
The word ‘niggerhead’ has numerous meaning, including: a type of chewing tobacco, a large rock, buried w/ only a small portion showing above ground, an isolated coral hesd, a mtn. in so. Calif., et.al.
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### Author:  [@NJ\_Kef\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NJ_Kef_1)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-words-that-happen-to-contain-the-n-word/404592/40 "2007-05-24T22:12:10Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas]
I remember a candy shapped like chocolate babies only out of black liquorice and called (insert word here) babies.
[/QUOTE]
Is this a NJ thing? I live in NJ, but I’m not from NJ. An ex-friend who grew up in NJ told me about “n- babies.” I was appalled. She is an intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate individual, but I got the distinct impression she resented having a piece of her childhood innocence being cast in an ugly light. When she said to me, “You out-niggered me,” I knew our long-time friendship was nearly at an end. R.I.P.
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