# What does wanker mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559 "2005-09-26T21:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/1 "2005-09-26T21:27:41Z")
Jerk? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/2 "2005-09-26T21:33:18Z")
> [@Lillith Fair](#): > > Jerk? From Wikipedia: Wanker is a perjorative term for one who wanks, or (masturbates). In Britain it is particularly used of someone (usually male) who is a self-obsessed show-off. It originated in Britain and is similar to the US insult “jerk-off”. Although masturbation is acknowledged as a widespread practice, the insulting properties of these terms still remain. The insult can also be conveyed using a hand gesture involving curling the fingers of the (usually right) hand into a loose fist and moving the hand back and forth in symbolic imitation of the act of male masturbation. This is most commonly used during altercations between motorists. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/3 "2005-09-26T21:34:32Z")
It literally means a male that likes to masterbate but that is like saying a “fucker” means someone that has sex. I believe the implied meanings are similar. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/4 "2005-09-26T21:37:50Z")
One who wanks. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/5 "2005-09-26T21:43:29Z")
As with all insults, it has many varied meanings. Dismissively, from a female, it means “you think you’re it, but you’re not” Aggressively, from a male, it can be perceived as a vague but serious challenge From close acquaintances, it’s nothing more than a joke (and this is the most common usage, by far) And it also is heard in every football ground, directed at the referee when he makes a decision the home fans don’t like - “who’s the wanker in the black” etc. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/6 "2005-09-27T01:31:32Z")
I wouldn’t compare wanker to fucker. Fucker is considerably more perjorative. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/7 "2005-09-27T01:35:56Z")
The way it’s used on this board, it does seem like “jerk” or “asshole” would be analogous American terms. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/8 "2005-09-27T02:39:24Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > I wouldn’t compare wanker to fucker. Fucker is considerably more perjorative. He wasn’t comparing the meanings of the two terms, but rather the similarity that while each could be used literally, they are both usually used in a figurative sense. ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/9 "2005-09-27T12:50:41Z")
It’s not a term generally used in friendly banter either. At least not with me and my friends. It’s made more interesting with Cockney Rhyming Slang, where the word in question is substituted with a rhyming phrase stripped of its rhyming word. So: Merchant (banker) = wanker Sherman (tank) = wank J. Arthur (Rank) = wank Armitage (Shanks) … you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/10 "2005-09-27T14:15:31Z")
If I were to use wanker it would be a bit more insulting than plonker and a little less insulting than fucker. ---
**Author:** ![Ithaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Ithaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ithaka)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wanker-mean/323559/11 "2005-09-27T16:03:53Z")
The Greek’s make this even more complicated with their word “Malaka”. It means the same as wanker and can be used in the same way. However, it can also be used as a term of affection - a grandad will call his grandson “a little ‘malaka’”! :eek: