# Is "Hebe" a racial slur? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098 "2012-09-18T19:32:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/61 "2012-09-20T15:32:56Z")
Well, Woody Allen used the term at least once, in _Zelig_, as a punchline. Some little old lady was giving a radio address about morals (and the threat thereto posed by the title character), ending her otherwise somewhat genteel musings with “Lynch the little hebe.” But in casual conversation among Jews? Never heard it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/62 "2012-09-20T21:59:55Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, Woody Allen used the term at least once, in _Zelig_, as a punchline. Some little old lady was giving a radio address about morals (and the threat thereto posed by the title character), ending her otherwise somewhat genteel musings with “Lynch the little hebe.” > > But in casual conversation among Jews? Never heard it. Seems to me the point of that joke is precisely that the term is offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/63 "2012-09-20T22:18:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s extremely simple. Consult a dictionary, like the links I posted above. The word is unquestionably a slur and usually used insultingly. Good idea. I’m glad that “fundie” will be removed from the SDMB lexicon. > [@dictionary.com](#): > > fundie (ˈfʌndɪ) > > — n > derogatory , slang ( Austral ) a fundamentalist Christian ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/64 "2012-09-20T22:25:43Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Good idea. I’m glad that “fundie” will be removed from the SDMB lexicon. Not going to happen, but thank you for playing this round of “if you ban this word you must ban that word!” As always, there are no prizes… ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/65 "2012-09-20T22:28:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Not going to happen, but thank you for playing this round of “if you ban this word you must ban that word!” As always, there are no prizes… So I guess consulting the dictionary isn’t very useful advice. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/66 "2012-09-20T22:37:53Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Good idea. I’m glad that “fundie” will be removed from the SDMB lexicon. We’re not going to do that just because you can find an on-line reference that lists it (and I note that your reference restricts the offensive sense to Australian English). You can find on-line references that [allege that “Indian” is offensive](http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/Indian) (with reference to American Indians), and we’re not going to remove that word either. In any case, “fundie” isn’t even close to the degree of offensiveness as “Hebe.” ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/67 "2012-09-20T22:43:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We’re not going to do that just because you can find an on-line reference that lists it (and I note that your reference restricts the offensive sense to Australian English). You can find on-line references that [allege that “Indian” is offensive](http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/Indian) (with reference to American Indians), and we’re not going to remove that word either. In any case, “fundie” isn’t even close to the degree of offensiveness as “Hebe.” Using [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) was your idea, not mine. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of the term “Hebe”. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/68 "2012-09-20T22:47:27Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Using [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) was your idea, not mine. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of the term “Hebe”. Do you actually find the term “fundie” deeply offensive, or are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/69 "2012-09-20T23:13:45Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Using [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) was your idea, not mine. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of the term “Hebe”. Trust me. It’s got a long history of being used as a nasty slur. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/70 "2012-09-21T00:05:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Do you actually find the term “fundie” deeply offensive, or are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? Yes. I find it deeply offensive. I realize that my opinion may not be shared by the majority of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/71 "2012-09-21T00:06:10Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Trust me. It’s got a long history of being used as a nasty slur. I trust you. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/72 "2012-09-21T20:59:19Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > And while blacks sometimes do use “nigger” to each other, I have NEVER heard anyone Jewish use the term “Hebe” to another Jew. Might be a Toronto-Jewish thing, then, because, truly, it _is_ used around here (by the AK’s, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/73 "2012-09-21T22:00:30Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Might be a Toronto-Jewish thing, then, because, truly, it _is_ used around here (by the AK’s, anyway). AK’s? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/74 "2012-09-21T22:22:47Z")
Alte kackers, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/75 "2012-09-23T18:48:09Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Using [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) was your idea, not mine. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of the term “Hebe”. When does the voting start? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/76 "2012-09-23T19:01:47Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Alte kackers, I’m guessing. Wow. That’s a new one on me. Had to look it up in the Urban Dictionary. I’m purer than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098/77 "2012-09-23T19:57:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Alte kackers, I’m guessing. For those not in the know, that’s Yiddish, literal translation is “old shitters.” It’s used in the sense of “old farts.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hebe-a-racial-slur/635098.md?page=3)