# Words people don't realize are slurs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741 "2004-09-23T20:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/1 "2004-09-23T20:10:15Z")
[This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=276323) mentions that both welshed and gyp may be racial slurs. I’ve used both these words before (actually I used “welched”, but it’s related) without it ever occuring to me that they refered to a certain ethnic group. What other words do you know that many people use without suspecting their offensive origin? I’d like to know because, for one thing, if they’re words I use then I’d like to stop using them. Even if it’s possible words like “welsh” and “gyp” don’t have an offensive origin, why take a chance if there are perfectly good synonyms like “renege” and “rip off”, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/2 "2004-09-23T20:20:14Z")
The facts of this one are questionable, and I think Cecil even did a column on it. So, with that disclaimer, I’ll tell you that many people believe that **“squaw”** is offensive. As the story goes, squaw is a rude term for vagina, probably equal to the English “c\*nt.” The linguistic evidence is sparse, but many folks get their dander up anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/3 "2004-09-23T20:27:08Z")
Someone told me that ‘nit-pick’ was originally a racial slur. He didn’t tell me why and I don’t know why. ---
**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 23, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/4 "2004-09-23T20:31:44Z")
It’s a slur on louse eggs. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/5 "2004-09-23T20:32:05Z")
I can think of three sexual terms that probably were insults-by-nation originally. French kiss (with tongue) and French letter (a condom) were probably slams at French morals, but today’s Frenchman probably takes no offense. Bugger (perform anal intercourse) is reportedly derived from Bulgarian. I’ve never met a Bulgarian, and I don’t know if they are offended by “bugger.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/6 "2004-09-23T20:38:15Z")
Spic-N-Span sounds like an ethnic slur but it is safe. > **[World Wide Words: Spick and span](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-spi5.htm)** > > It's a strange expression, when you stop to think about it, even more so when you know that 'spick and span' means 'spike and wood chip'. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/7 "2004-09-23T20:43:54Z")
The slang term “suck” (“You suck!”) originated as a homophobic insult; in other words, you perform fellatio on another man. ---
**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 23, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/8 "2004-09-23T20:44:52Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > The slang term “suck” (“You suck!”) originated as a homophobic insult; in other words, you perform fellatio on another man. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/9 "2004-09-23T21:01:32Z")
Up until recently, I didn’t realize that “Polack” was derogatory; I thought it was just a name for a person from Poland. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/10 "2004-09-23T21:07:34Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Spic-N-Span sounds like an ethnic slur but it is safe. > > [World Wide Words: Spick and span](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-spi5.htm) Safe, my ass. People need to stop slandering Sino-Pacific Asian Nationals whenever they refer to cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/11 "2004-09-23T21:07:47Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > Up until recently, I didn’t realize that “Polack” was derogatory; I thought it was just a name for a person from Poland. Well, technically, it does just mean someone from Poland (in Polish, IIRC). But it became derogatory by its usage. I’d add NEANDERTHAL to the list (had to correct somone just today in a GD thread). Not that there are any Neanderthals around to offend, but it’s just plain wrong-- no need to propagate a negative image that has no basis in scientific fact. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/12 "2004-09-23T21:13:09Z")
The first time I met a person from Oklahoma, I called her an “Okie”. She got all pissed, and I’ve never said it again. Never ran into any other Oklahomians either. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/13 "2004-09-23T21:14:28Z")
I think there was a discussion on the boards quite some time ago about the term “shyster” in reference to lawyers. This is apparently seen as a Jewish slur. I remember using the term “Indian giver” a lot as a kid, before I had any idea what it really meant. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/14 "2004-09-23T21:15:17Z")
Origin of slang term “sucks”: [One](http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifsckbvrynstsfyng.shtml) [Two](http://www.testycopyeditors.org/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=000037) [Three](http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wrader/slang/recent2003-01-04.html) It’s only been in the last 15 years or so that “sucks” was allowed on network television in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/15 "2004-09-23T21:15:57Z")
Of course you then have to think of the words that people believe are racial slurs but are not. Niggardly comes to mind. The fact that it is pejorative does not help it. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/16 "2004-09-23T21:57:05Z")
I have two friends from from Ireland who each used the infamous ‘N’ word to describe someone to me. Neither had any idea of how explosive that word can be to an American. It was used by them as a mild perjorative, to mean something equivalent to ‘lackey.’ I asked they never, ever, ever say that word in front of me again. I guess that’s what is meant by ‘unspeakable.’ ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/17 "2004-09-23T21:59:37Z")
A few months ago I found out that [“bohunk”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269598) was once widely considered a slur on Bohemian-Americans, and still is by some people. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/18 "2004-09-23T22:00:35Z")
I didn’t know, until moving to Florida, that “Cracker” is really a slur. A black woman informed me that, back in the day on the plantation, the cracker was the guy who stood out in the fields with the slaves actually cracking the whip. Being called a cracker hence, implies your self-superiority over those around you. I have no cite beyond this woman’s word. Evidently, calling her a Florida Cracker was a slight faux pas. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/19 "2004-09-23T22:19:49Z")
We have a Dutch poster here who is often referred to as clog-boy. He apparently is unaware that the term is generally considered derogatory. The word does appear to be used affectionately around the SDMB though. Wooden shoes, wooden head , wouden listen. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741/20 "2004-09-23T22:34:41Z")
The use of the prefix Dutch in several English words apparently originates when the British and Dutch were in serious rivalry over world trade during the 17th 18thC. The British had their arses handed to them a few times, ask any Netherlander what the broom was meant to symbolise when the Dutch fleet sailed up the Thames. Dutch Courage - as a form of false courage - was a slur on their gallant seafarers as an explanation of their fighting prowess(and partly to excuse British woefulness) There were a whole bunch of such slurs, they may not seem that way to us now, but things like, Dutch Uncle was a slur. Going Dutch or Dutch Treat - Gentlemen never asked lady companions this, nowadays it is a sign of enlightened equality, it certainly wasn’t when it was originally penned, not something anyone would ask a guest, and was used to imply meanness. Double Dutch - for talking gibberish Phrases such as “Well I’ll be a Dutchman” when used to express consternation and surprise. Try this for loads of stuff, > **[ethnic slur](https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Ethnic%20slur)** > > Wikipedia article about ethnic slur I believe that even the term Dutch itself can be offensive to some residents of the Netherlands. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-people-dont-realize-are-slurs/265741.md?page=2)