The other day, walking on the street with my wife, I refered to an elderly lady as “babushka”. I didn’t say it to her, I used that term to make reference to her.
My wife scolded me for using an ethnic slur.
I am an American, not of Slavic/Eastern European/Russian decent, and this word is not part of my every day vocabulary. I thought it was of Slavic/Eastern European/Russian origin and roughly translated as “granny”, or an informal address for an elderly woman.
Granted, if I addressed a complete stranger this way they might take offense if they felt I should have addressed them in a less familiar manner.
But overall, … … … I didn’t call that lady a bad name did I?
http://www.dictionary.com gives the definition as “A woman’s head scarf”, but the etymology is “Russian, grandmother, diminutive of baba, old woman”
My understanding is that the connotation is pretty similar to “granny”. But “granny” itself could be considered a slur if your using it to call someone old. I guess “old” could be a slur also, in the right context.
I’m not sure if I’d call it a slur, but it is a label. You meant no harm by it, but the woman might have been offended had she heard you call her that. I’d say it isn’t as bad as referring to a random hispanic man as “Paco”, or a random Middle Eastern man as “Habib”, or a random Asian-American man as “Chang”. You weren’t (in your mind) using her ethnicity as a source for your remark.
Besides, you were calling her a scarf. That’s just not polite.
“Babushka” is Russian for “grandmother.” My old Russian teacher referred to herself as a babushka, in the context of having children who themselves had children.
I don’t think it could be construed as a slur any more than “granny” would be, which is to say that it depends on the motive behind the use. As a descriptive term, there’s no harm in it, unless the woman in question is sensitive about her age.
BA-bushka is equal parts endearment, term of respect, and force to be reckoned with. Ba-BUSH-ka is the scarf frequently worn by BA-bushkas. There is the connotation of a certain stuffy propriety, and a willingness to scold if you don’t conform to that propriety, but I couldn’t imagine it ever being derogatory if applied with the proper age in mind.
Additionally, BAB-och-ka, means, if I remember correctly, babe or slut.
Generally, Babushka, when referring to an old lady is not an insult. It is used colloquially, kind of like “ma’am.”
Russians also use the work “devushka” meaning “girl” or “young lady” as a term of address along the lines of “Miss” when referring to waitresses and the like.
As with all things, tone of voice and perceived intent can turn an innocent address into a slur.
Also, make sure the lady in question is of sufficient age to be referred to as a Babushka or you could have a problem on your hands.
Trucido, my russian teachers, Valentina Ivanovna and Sofia Gregoreevna would absolutely LOVE your definition, being Forces of Nature in their own rights.
