List of ethnic slurs
Updated: 5/30/2026, 1:24:48 AM Wikipedia source
The following is a list of ethnic slurs, ethnophaulisms, or ethnic epithets that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnic, national, or racial group or to refer to them in a derogatory, pejorative, or otherwise insulting manner. Some of the terms listed below can be used in casual speech without any intention of causing offense, while others may be much more offensive. The connotation of a term and prevalence of its use as a pejorative or neutral descriptor varies over time and by geography. For the purposes of this list, an ethnic slur is a term designed to insult others on the basis of race, ethnicity, or nationality. Each term is listed followed by its country or region of usage, a definition, and a reference to that term. Ethnic slurs may also be produced as a racial epithet by combining a general-purpose insult with the name of ethnicity. Common insulting modifiers include "dog", "pig", "dirty" and "filthy"; such terms are not included in this list.
Tables
Ethnic slurs beginning with a · A
Abbie, Abe, Abie
Abbie, Abe, Abie
Term
Abbie, Abe, Abie
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
Jewish men
Meaning, origin and notes
Originated before the 1950s. From the proper name Abraham.
ABC
ABC
Term
ABC
Location or origin
East Asia
Targets
American-born Chinese, Han or other Chinese (including Taiwanese) born and raised in the United States.
Meaning, origin and notes
The term implies an otherness or lack of connection to their Chinese identity and (usually) Chinese language; however, it has been reappropriated by many Chinese Americans and used to convey positive connotations.
ABCD
ABCD
Term
ABCD
Location or origin
South Asians in the US
Targets
American-Born Confused Desi, Indian Americans or other South Asian Americans, (desi) who were born in the United States.
Meaning, origin and notes
Used chiefly by South Asian immigrants to imply confusion about cultural identity. Now often used in a positive, reclaimed sense.
Abid / Abeed (plural)
Abid / Abeed (plural)
Term
Abid / Abeed (plural)
Location or origin
Middle East and North Africa
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Arabic word for slave
Abo / Abbo
Abo / Abbo
Term
Abo / Abbo
Location or origin
Australia
Targets
Australian Aboriginal person
Meaning, origin and notes
Originally, this was simply an informal term for Aborigine, and was in fact used by Aboriginal people themselves (such as in the Aboriginal-run newspaper Abo Call) until it started to be considered offensive in the 1950s. Although Abo is still considered quite offensive by many, the pejorative boong is now more commonly used when the intent is deli
African (or Afro or colored) engineering or nigger rigging
African (or Afro or colored) engineering or nigger rigging
Term
African (or Afro or colored) engineering or nigger rigging
Location or origin
United States
Targets
African Americans
Meaning, origin and notes
Shoddy, second-rate or unconventional, makeshift workmanship. Indirectly refers to black American people as worse or lower-valued than white American people when associating anything bad with them.
Ah Chah
Ah Chah
Term
Ah Chah
Location or origin
Hong Kong
Targets
South Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
From 阿差; Cantonese Yale: achā; from "acchā" meaning "good" or "OK" in Hindi. Is less used in a derogatory fashion and more in a generalizing way in everyday conversation.
Ali Baba
Ali Baba
Term
Ali Baba
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Iraqi people
Meaning, origin and notes
An Iraqi suspected of criminal activity.
Alligator bait, 'gator bait
Alligator bait, 'gator bait
Term
Alligator bait, 'gator bait
Location or origin
United States (chiefly southern U .)
Targets
Black people, especially black children
Meaning, origin and notes
Dates from early 20th century or before; implies that African Americans are good for nothing except being used to bait alligators
AmaLawu, AmaQheya
AmaLawu, AmaQheya
Term
AmaLawu, AmaQheya
Location or origin
South Africa
Targets
Khoisans and Cape Coloureds or Coloureds
Meaning, origin and notes
Xhosa words for Hottentot
Amalek, Amalekite
Amalek, Amalekite
Term
Amalek, Amalekite
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Palestinians
Meaning, origin and notes
Amalek were an ancient people, but many Israeli Jews use it as a dehumanizing term to justify the Gaza genocide.
Ang mo
Ang mo
Term
Ang mo
Location or origin
Malaysia, Singapore
Targets
European people, especially the Dutch
Meaning, origin and notes
Hokkien for "red hair" referring to Dutch people from the 17th century and expanded to encompass other Europeans by the 19th century. It has become a neutral term, though is sometimes seen as derogatory.
Ann
Ann
Term
Ann
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
White women, "white-acting" black women
Meaning, origin and notes
While Miss Ann, also just plain Ann, is a derisive reference to white women, it is also applied to any black woman who is deemed to be acting as though she is white.
Annamite, mites
Annamite, mites
Term
Annamite, mites
Location or origin
French, English
Targets
Vietnamese people
Ape
Ape
Term
Ape
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Referring to outdated theories ascribing cultural differences between racial groups as being linked to their evolutionary distance from chimpanzees, with which all humans share common ancestry.
Apple
Apple
Term
Apple
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
Native Americans
Meaning, origin and notes
First used in the 1970s. Someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside". Used primarily by other Native Americans to indicate someone who has lost touch with their cultural identity.
Arapis (Greek: Αράπης); feminine: arapissa, arapena
Arapis (Greek: Αράπης); feminine: arapissa, arapena
Term
Arapis (Greek: Αράπης); feminine: arapissa, arapena
Targets
Black people and Arabs
Meaning, origin and notes
From Turkish arap for "Arab" or, colloquially, "dark-skinned-person"
Arabush / Araboosh / Aravush (ערבוש)
Arabush / Araboosh / Aravush (ערבוש)
Term
Arabush / Araboosh / Aravush (ערבוש)
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Arabs
Meaning, origin and notes
Arabs, derived from Hebrew "Aravi" (Arab).
Argie / Argies (plural)
Argie / Argies (plural)
Term
Argie / Argies (plural)
Location or origin
United Kingdom
Targets
Argentine people
Meaning, origin and notes
Extensively used by the British soldiers during the Falklands War in 1982.
Armo
Armo
Term
Armo
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Armenian / Armenian American
Meaning, origin and notes
Especially used in Southern California.
Asing, Aseng
Asing, Aseng
Term
Asing, Aseng
Location or origin
Indonesia
Targets
Non-Indonesian people, especially Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Insult to non-Indonesian citizen, from "[orang] asing" (foreigner) that rhymed with "Aseng" (Chinese name). This word is often directed at Chinese people due to Indonesia's relationship with the PRC.
Ashke-Nazi (אשכנאצי)
Ashke-Nazi (אשכנאצי)
Term
Ashke-Nazi (אשכנאצי)
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Ashkenazi Jews
Meaning, origin and notes
Pronounced like "AshkeNatzi". Used mostly by Mizrachi Jews.
Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally
Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally
Term
Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black women
Meaning, origin and notes
A black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout", female counterpart of Uncle Tom.
| Term | Location or origin | Targets | Meaning, origin and notes | Ref |
| Abbie, Abe, Abie | United States, Canada | Jewish men | Originated before the 1950s. From the proper name Abraham. | |
| ABC | East Asia | American-born Chinese, Han or other Chinese (including Taiwanese) born and raised in the United States. | The term implies an otherness or lack of connection to their Chinese identity and (usually) Chinese language; however, it has been reappropriated by many Chinese Americans and used to convey positive connotations. | |
| ABCD | South Asians in the US | American-Born Confused Desi, Indian Americans or other South Asian Americans, (desi) who were born in the United States. | Used chiefly by South Asian immigrants to imply confusion about cultural identity. Now often used in a positive, reclaimed sense. | |
| Abid / Abeed (plural) | Middle East and North Africa | Black people | Arabic word for slave | |
| Abo / Abbo | Australia | Australian Aboriginal person | Originally, this was simply an informal term for Aborigine, and was in fact used by Aboriginal people themselves (such as in the Aboriginal-run newspaper Abo Call) until it started to be considered offensive in the 1950s. Although Abo is still considered quite offensive by many, the pejorative boong is now more commonly used when the intent is deli | |
| African (or Afro or colored) engineering or nigger rigging | United States | African Americans | Shoddy, second-rate or unconventional, makeshift workmanship. Indirectly refers to black American people as worse or lower-valued than white American people when associating anything bad with them. | |
| Ah Chah | Hong Kong | South Asian people | From 阿差; Cantonese Yale: achā; from "acchā" meaning "good" or "OK" in Hindi. Is less used in a derogatory fashion and more in a generalizing way in everyday conversation. | |
| Ali Baba | United States | Iraqi people | An Iraqi suspected of criminal activity. | |
| Alligator bait, 'gator bait | United States (chiefly southern U .) | Black people, especially black children | Dates from early 20th century or before; implies that African Americans are good for nothing except being used to bait alligators | |
| AmaLawu, AmaQheya | South Africa | Khoisans and Cape Coloureds or Coloureds | Xhosa words for Hottentot | |
| Amalek, Amalekite | Israel | Palestinians | Amalek were an ancient people, but many Israeli Jews use it as a dehumanizing term to justify the Gaza genocide. | |
| Ang mo | Malaysia, Singapore | European people, especially the Dutch | Hokkien for "red hair" referring to Dutch people from the 17th century and expanded to encompass other Europeans by the 19th century. It has become a neutral term, though is sometimes seen as derogatory. | |
| Ann | United States, Canada | White women, "white-acting" black women | While Miss Ann, also just plain Ann, is a derisive reference to white women, it is also applied to any black woman who is deemed to be acting as though she is white. | |
| Annamite, mites | French, English | Vietnamese people | ||
| Ape | United States | Black people | Referring to outdated theories ascribing cultural differences between racial groups as being linked to their evolutionary distance from chimpanzees, with which all humans share common ancestry. | |
| Apple | United States, Canada | Native Americans | First used in the 1970s. Someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside". Used primarily by other Native Americans to indicate someone who has lost touch with their cultural identity. | |
| Arapis (Greek: Αράπης); feminine: arapissa, arapena | Black people and Arabs | From Turkish arap for "Arab" or, colloquially, "dark-skinned-person" | ||
| Arabush / Araboosh / Aravush (ערבוש) | Israel | Arabs | Arabs, derived from Hebrew "Aravi" (Arab). | |
| Argie / Argies (plural) | United Kingdom | Argentine people | Extensively used by the British soldiers during the Falklands War in 1982. | |
| Armo | United States | Armenian / Armenian American | Especially used in Southern California. | |
| Asing, Aseng | Indonesia | Non-Indonesian people, especially Chinese people | Insult to non-Indonesian citizen, from "[orang] asing" (foreigner) that rhymed with "Aseng" (Chinese name). This word is often directed at Chinese people due to Indonesia's relationship with the PRC. | |
| Ashke-Nazi (אשכנאצי) | Israel | Ashkenazi Jews | Pronounced like "AshkeNatzi". Used mostly by Mizrachi Jews. | |
| Aunt Jemima / Aunt Jane / Aunt Mary / Aunt Sally | United States | Black women | A black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout", female counterpart of Uncle Tom. |
Ethnic slurs beginning with b · B
Bachicha
Bachicha
Term
Bachicha
Location or origin
Chile
Targets
Italian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Possibly derived from the Italian word Baciccia, a nickname for Giambattista.
Baiano
Baiano
Term
Baiano
Location or origin
Brazil
Targets
Northeastern Brazilian people
Meaning, origin and notes
A person born in Bahia, one of the 9 states in the Northeast Region of Brazil. As a slur, it refers generically to any Northeastern person. Used mainly in São Paulo, the term is related to the Northeastern immigration of the second half of the 20th century.
Balija
Balija
Term
Balija
Location or origin
Turkey, the Balkans
Targets
Bosnian people
Meaning, origin and notes
An ethnic Bosniak or a member of the Bosnian diaspora. Not to be confused with Balija (Indian caste).
Baluba
Baluba
Term
Baluba
Location or origin
Northern Italy
Targets
Southern Italians and Africans
Meaning, origin and notes
Mainly used in Lombardy region, it is derived from the name of the Luba people of Central Africa. It has been used as an insult meaning “savage” or “uncivilized”. Sometimes the word Africa is used with the same meaning.
Bamboula
Bamboula
Term
Bamboula
Location or origin
France
Targets
Black people
Bambus
Bambus
Term
Bambus
Location or origin
Poland
Targets
Black people, sometimes Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Literally it means bamboo in Polish but most probably it's derived from a popular children's poem Murzynek Bambo.
Banaan
Banaan
Term
Banaan
Location or origin
Suriname
Targets
Black people, people of African descent
Meaning, origin and notes
Dutch: Banana. A slur that is used to refer to black people, people of African heritage. It derives from the colour of a banana's skin, which is yellow or brown, and is therefore seen as an offensive way to describe black and coloured people's skin colour.
Banana
Banana
Term
Banana
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
East or Southeast Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
"Yellow on the outside, white on the inside". Used primarily by East or Southeast Asians for other East- or Southeast Asians or Asian Americans who are perceived as assimilated into mainstream American culture. Similar to Apple.
Banderite
Banderite
Term
Banderite
Location or origin
Poland
Targets
Ukrainians
Meaning, origin and notes
The term Banderite was originally used to refer to the ultra-nationalist wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, in reference to its leader Stepan Bandera. In Poland, the term "banderowiec" is used in connection with the massacres of Poles in Volhynia by the UPA. The term became a crucial element of Soviet propaganda and was used as a
Bangla, Pankla
Bangla, Pankla
Term
Bangla, Pankla
Location or origin
Italy
Targets
Bengalis
Meaning, origin and notes
Informal Italian slang, derived from Bangladesh, used for people of Bengali or South Asian origin and sometimes corner stores run by them. Can be offensive depending on context.
Barbarian
Barbarian
Term
Barbarian
Location or origin
Greece
Targets
Non-Greek people
Meaning, origin and notes
Someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. βάρβαρος (barbaros pl. βάρβαροι barbaroi). In Ancient Greece, the Greeks used the term towards those who did not speak Greek and follow classical Greek customs.
Barya / Bareya
Barya / Bareya
Term
Barya / Bareya
Location or origin
Ethiopia, Eritrea
Targets
Sub-Saharan Africans racially considered non-Ethiopian
Meaning, origin and notes
The term Barya originally referred to the Nara people, and through centuries of slave raiding and social stratification it came to mean “slave” in Amharic and related languages.
Ba que
Ba que
Term
Ba que
Location or origin
Vietnam
Targets
Vietnamese diaspora after the country's reunification
Meaning, origin and notes
Literally "three sticks", in reference to the flag of South Vietnam. The original meaning refers to a children trick game, later used by the communists and opponents of South Vietnam to condemn the latter as a corrupt and scheming regime.
Beaner / Beaney
Beaner / Beaney
Term
Beaner / Beaney
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Hispanic or Latino people, especially Mexicans
Meaning, origin and notes
The term originates from the use of frijoles pintos and other beans that can be generally found in Mexican food or other Hispanic and Latino foods.
Bimbo
Bimbo
Term
Bimbo
Location or origin
German
Targets
Africans, people with very dark skin in general
Meaning, origin and notes
The origin of this term is disputed, but experts suggest that it either derives from the Central African town of Bimbo, or from the former state of Bimbia, which was annexed by the German colony of Kamerun. It is not related to the similar-sounding English slang word.
Bing / Binghi
Bing / Binghi
Term
Bing / Binghi
Location or origin
Australia
Targets
Aboriginal Australians
Meaning, origin and notes
"Binghi" was originally an aboriginal word for "brother". Later generalized to all Aboriginal Australians.
Bingo-Bongo
Bingo-Bongo
Term
Bingo-Bongo
Location or origin
Italy
Targets
Black people
Black Buck, black brute, brown buck or brown brute
Black Buck, black brute, brown buck or brown brute
Term
Black Buck, black brute, brown buck or brown brute
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black men
Meaning, origin and notes
Originating in the post-Reconstruction United States, it was used to describe black men who absolutely refused to bend to the law of white authority and were seen as irredeemably violent, rude, and lecherous.
Blackie
Blackie
Term
Blackie
Location or origin
English
Targets
Black person
Blatte
Blatte
Term
Blatte
Location or origin
Sweden
Targets
Foreigners with dark skin
Bluegum
Bluegum
Term
Bluegum
Location or origin
United States
Targets
African Americans
Meaning, origin and notes
An African American perceived as being lazy and unwilling to work.
Boche / bosche / bosch
Boche / bosche / bosch
Term
Boche / bosche / bosch
Location or origin
France; United States; United Kingdom
Targets
German people
Meaning, origin and notes
Shortened from the French term caboche dure, meaning "hard head" or "cabbage head" with the influence of German surname Bosch.
Boeotian
Boeotian
Term
Boeotian
Location or origin
Athenians
Targets
Boeotian Greek people
Meaning, origin and notes
Referring to the supposed stupidity of the inhabitants of the neighboring Boeotia region of Greece.
Boerehater / Boer-hater / Boer hater
Boerehater / Boer-hater / Boer hater
Term
Boerehater / Boer-hater / Boer hater
Location or origin
South Africa; United Kingdom
Targets
British people
Meaning, origin and notes
Refers to a person who hates, prejudices, or criticizes the Boers, or Afrikaners – historically applied to British people who held anti-Boers sentiments.
Bog / Bogtrotter / Bog-trotter
Bog / Bogtrotter / Bog-trotter
Term
Bog / Bogtrotter / Bog-trotter
Location or origin
United Kingdom, Ireland, United States
Targets
Irish people
Meaning, origin and notes
A person of common or low-class Irish ancestry.
Bogate
Bogate
Term
Bogate
Location or origin
Chile
Targets
Yugoslav people
Meaning, origin and notes
The expression is said to come from the Yugoslav interjection Boga ti!
Bohunk
Bohunk
Term
Bohunk
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
Bohemian people
Meaning, origin and notes
A lower-class immigrant of Central, Eastern, or Southeastern European descent. Originally referred to those of Bohemian (now Czech Republic) descent. It was commonly used toward Central European immigrants during the early 20th century. Probably from Bohemian + a distortion of Hungarian. See also hunky.
Bolita
Bolita
Term
Bolita
Location or origin
Argentina
Targets
Bolivians
Bong
Bong
Term
Bong
Location or origin
India
Targets
Bengali people
Boong / Boang / Bong / Bung
Boong / Boang / Bong / Bung
Term
Boong / Boang / Bong / Bung
Location or origin
Australia
Targets
Aboriginal Australians
Meaning, origin and notes
[First used in 1847 by JD Lang, Cooksland, 430]. Boong, pronounced with ʊ (like the vowel in bull), is related to the Australian English slang word bung, meaning "dead", "infected", or "dysfunctional". From bung, to go bung "Originally to die, then to break down, go bankrupt, cease to function [Ab. bong dead]". The 1988 edition of the Australian N
Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie
Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie
Term
Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie
Location or origin
New Zealand
Targets
Pacific Islanders
Meaning, origin and notes
Likely derived from the similar Australian slur
Bootlip
Bootlip
Term
Bootlip
Location or origin
United States
Targets
African American people
Bougnoule
Bougnoule
Term
Bougnoule
Location or origin
France, Wolof
Targets
Arabian people, North Africans, Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Analogous to Wog or Raghead, originally was used against Black people but broadened to brown Arabs
Bounty bar
Bounty bar
Term
Bounty bar
Location or origin
United Kingdom
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
A black person who is considered to be behaving like a white person (i . dark on the outside, white on the inside).
Bozgor
Bozgor
Term
Bozgor
Location or origin
Romania
Targets
Hungarian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Used especially on ones born in Romania. Possibly derived from the Moldavian Csángó dialect pronunciation of bocskor meaning Opanak, a type of rustic footwear.
Brillo Pad
Brillo Pad
Term
Brillo Pad
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black People
Meaning, origin and notes
Used to refer to the hair of a black person
Brownie
Brownie
Term
Brownie
Location or origin
United States, New Zealand, and Australia
Targets
Brown-skinned people, an Asian
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in the 1850s–1960s; in Australia it was used for an Aboriginal Australian or someone Japanese; in New Zealand, a Māori
Buckwheat
Buckwheat
Term
Buckwheat
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
The name of a black character that appeared in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films. Today it is used to refer to the curly hair of a black person.
Buddhahead
Buddhahead
Term
Buddhahead
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Also used by mainland Japanese Americans to refer to Hawaiian Japanese Americans since World War II.
Buckra, Bakra
Buckra, Bakra
Term
Buckra, Bakra
Location or origin
United States, West Indies
Targets
White people from Sub-Saharan African languages
Bulbash
Bulbash
Term
Bulbash
Location or origin
Russia, Ukraine
Targets
Belarusians
Meaning, origin and notes
Derived from Belarusian word "bulba" (potatoes), based on the fact that potatoes are a very common ingredient in Belarusian cuisine.
Bule
Bule
Term
Bule
Location or origin
Indonesia
Targets
White people or foreigner
Meaning, origin and notes
Derived from an archaic Indonesian word for albino.
Bumbay
Bumbay
Term
Bumbay
Location or origin
Philippines
Targets
People from India
Meaning, origin and notes
From Bombay
Burrhead / Burr-head / Burr head
Burrhead / Burr-head / Burr head
Term
Burrhead / Burr-head / Burr head
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Referencing Afro-textured hair.
Bushy (s.) / Bushies, Amadushie (p.)
Bushy (s.) / Bushies, Amadushie (p.)
Term
Bushy (s.) / Bushies, Amadushie (p.)
Location or origin
South Africa
Targets
Khoisans
Meaning, origin and notes
Historically used against the Khoisan people in Southern Africa, referring to their nomadic lifestyle and reliance on the bush for survival.
Buzzurro
Buzzurro
Term
Buzzurro
Location or origin
Italy
Targets
Northern Italians and Italian-speaking Swiss
Meaning, origin and notes
It is an Italian derogatory term historically used to label Northern Italians perceived as unsophisticated or rural. In Tuscany, it targeted Swiss-Italian chestnut and polenta sellers from the Alps, while in Rome it was primarily directed at Piedmontese migrants who arrived after the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
| Term | Location or origin | Targets | Meaning, origin and notes | Ref |
| Bachicha | Chile | Italian people | Possibly derived from the Italian word Baciccia, a nickname for Giambattista. | |
| Baiano | Brazil | Northeastern Brazilian people | A person born in Bahia, one of the 9 states in the Northeast Region of Brazil. As a slur, it refers generically to any Northeastern person. Used mainly in São Paulo, the term is related to the Northeastern immigration of the second half of the 20th century. | |
| Balija | Turkey, the Balkans | Bosnian people | An ethnic Bosniak or a member of the Bosnian diaspora. Not to be confused with Balija (Indian caste). | |
| Baluba | Northern Italy | Southern Italians and Africans | Mainly used in Lombardy region, it is derived from the name of the Luba people of Central Africa. It has been used as an insult meaning “savage” or “uncivilized”. Sometimes the word Africa is used with the same meaning. | |
| Bamboula | France | Black people | ||
| Bambus | Poland | Black people, sometimes Asian people | Literally it means bamboo in Polish but most probably it's derived from a popular children's poem Murzynek Bambo. | |
| Banaan | Suriname | Black people, people of African descent | Dutch: Banana. A slur that is used to refer to black people, people of African heritage. It derives from the colour of a banana's skin, which is yellow or brown, and is therefore seen as an offensive way to describe black and coloured people's skin colour. | |
| Banana | United States, Canada | East or Southeast Asian people | "Yellow on the outside, white on the inside". Used primarily by East or Southeast Asians for other East- or Southeast Asians or Asian Americans who are perceived as assimilated into mainstream American culture. Similar to Apple. | |
| Banderite | Poland | Ukrainians | The term Banderite was originally used to refer to the ultra-nationalist wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, in reference to its leader Stepan Bandera. In Poland, the term "banderowiec" is used in connection with the massacres of Poles in Volhynia by the UPA. The term became a crucial element of Soviet propaganda and was used as a | |
| Bangla, Pankla | Italy | Bengalis | Informal Italian slang, derived from Bangladesh, used for people of Bengali or South Asian origin and sometimes corner stores run by them. Can be offensive depending on context. | |
| Barbarian | Greece | Non-Greek people | Someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. βάρβαρος (barbaros pl. βάρβαροι barbaroi). In Ancient Greece, the Greeks used the term towards those who did not speak Greek and follow classical Greek customs. | |
| Barya / Bareya | Ethiopia, Eritrea | Sub-Saharan Africans racially considered non-Ethiopian | The term Barya originally referred to the Nara people, and through centuries of slave raiding and social stratification it came to mean “slave” in Amharic and related languages. | |
| Ba que | Vietnam | Vietnamese diaspora after the country's reunification | Literally "three sticks", in reference to the flag of South Vietnam. The original meaning refers to a children trick game, later used by the communists and opponents of South Vietnam to condemn the latter as a corrupt and scheming regime. | |
| Beaner / Beaney | United States | Hispanic or Latino people, especially Mexicans | The term originates from the use of frijoles pintos and other beans that can be generally found in Mexican food or other Hispanic and Latino foods. | |
| Bimbo | German | Africans, people with very dark skin in general | The origin of this term is disputed, but experts suggest that it either derives from the Central African town of Bimbo, or from the former state of Bimbia, which was annexed by the German colony of Kamerun. It is not related to the similar-sounding English slang word. | |
| Bing / Binghi | Australia | Aboriginal Australians | "Binghi" was originally an aboriginal word for "brother". Later generalized to all Aboriginal Australians. | |
| Bingo-Bongo | Italy | Black people | ||
| Black Buck, black brute, brown buck or brown brute | United States | Black men | Originating in the post-Reconstruction United States, it was used to describe black men who absolutely refused to bend to the law of white authority and were seen as irredeemably violent, rude, and lecherous. | |
| Blackie | English | Black person | ||
| Blatte | Sweden | Foreigners with dark skin | ||
| Bluegum | United States | African Americans | An African American perceived as being lazy and unwilling to work. | |
| Boche / bosche / bosch | France; United States; United Kingdom | German people | Shortened from the French term caboche dure, meaning "hard head" or "cabbage head" with the influence of German surname Bosch. | |
| Boeotian | Athenians | Boeotian Greek people | Referring to the supposed stupidity of the inhabitants of the neighboring Boeotia region of Greece. | |
| Boerehater / Boer-hater / Boer hater | South Africa; United Kingdom | British people | Refers to a person who hates, prejudices, or criticizes the Boers, or Afrikaners – historically applied to British people who held anti-Boers sentiments. | |
| Bog / Bogtrotter / Bog-trotter | United Kingdom, Ireland, United States | Irish people | A person of common or low-class Irish ancestry. | |
| Bogate | Chile | Yugoslav people | The expression is said to come from the Yugoslav interjection Boga ti! | |
| Bohunk | United States, Canada | Bohemian people | A lower-class immigrant of Central, Eastern, or Southeastern European descent. Originally referred to those of Bohemian (now Czech Republic) descent. It was commonly used toward Central European immigrants during the early 20th century. Probably from Bohemian + a distortion of Hungarian. See also hunky. | |
| Bolita | Argentina | Bolivians | ||
| Bong | India | Bengali people | ||
| Boong / Boang / Bong / Bung | Australia | Aboriginal Australians | [First used in 1847 by JD Lang, Cooksland, 430]. Boong, pronounced with ʊ (like the vowel in bull), is related to the Australian English slang word bung, meaning "dead", "infected", or "dysfunctional". From bung, to go bung "Originally to die, then to break down, go bankrupt, cease to function [Ab. bong dead]". The 1988 edition of the Australian N | |
| Boonga / boong / bunga / boonie | New Zealand | Pacific Islanders | Likely derived from the similar Australian slur | |
| Bootlip | United States | African American people | ||
| Bougnoule | France, Wolof | Arabian people, North Africans, Black people | Analogous to Wog or Raghead, originally was used against Black people but broadened to brown Arabs | |
| Bounty bar | United Kingdom | Black people | A black person who is considered to be behaving like a white person (i . dark on the outside, white on the inside). | |
| Bozgor | Romania | Hungarian people | Used especially on ones born in Romania. Possibly derived from the Moldavian Csángó dialect pronunciation of bocskor meaning Opanak, a type of rustic footwear. | |
| Brillo Pad | United States | Black People | Used to refer to the hair of a black person | |
| Brownie | United States, New Zealand, and Australia | Brown-skinned people, an Asian | Used in the 1850s–1960s; in Australia it was used for an Aboriginal Australian or someone Japanese; in New Zealand, a Māori | |
| Buckwheat | United States | Black people | The name of a black character that appeared in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films. Today it is used to refer to the curly hair of a black person. | |
| Buddhahead | United States | Asian people | Also used by mainland Japanese Americans to refer to Hawaiian Japanese Americans since World War II. | |
| Buckra, Bakra | United States, West Indies | White people from Sub-Saharan African languages | ||
| Bulbash | Russia, Ukraine | Belarusians | Derived from Belarusian word "bulba" (potatoes), based on the fact that potatoes are a very common ingredient in Belarusian cuisine. | |
| Bule | Indonesia | White people or foreigner | Derived from an archaic Indonesian word for albino. | |
| Bumbay | Philippines | People from India | From Bombay | |
| Burrhead / Burr-head / Burr head | United States | Black people | Referencing Afro-textured hair. | |
| Bushy (s.) / Bushies, Amadushie (p.) | South Africa | Khoisans | Historically used against the Khoisan people in Southern Africa, referring to their nomadic lifestyle and reliance on the bush for survival. | |
| Buzzurro | Italy | Northern Italians and Italian-speaking Swiss | It is an Italian derogatory term historically used to label Northern Italians perceived as unsophisticated or rural. In Tuscany, it targeted Swiss-Italian chestnut and polenta sellers from the Alps, while in Rome it was primarily directed at Piedmontese migrants who arrived after the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. |
Ethnic slurs beginning with c · C
Cabbage eater
Cabbage eater
Term
Cabbage eater
Targets
German and Russian people
Cacariso, Cagariso
Cacariso, Cagariso
Term
Cacariso, Cagariso
Location or origin
Italy
Targets
East Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Literally "rice shitter"
Canaca
Canaca
Term
Canaca
Location or origin
Chile
Targets
Chinese and Japanese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Canaca is a slur originating in Oceania.
Camel jockey
Camel jockey
Term
Camel jockey
Targets
Middle Eastern people
Camel drivers
Camel drivers
Term
Camel drivers
Location or origin
Germany
Targets
Arabs and Turks
Camel riders
Camel riders
Term
Camel riders
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Arabs
Carcamano
Carcamano
Term
Carcamano
Location or origin
Brazil
Targets
Italian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Used during the early 20th century, during the Second wave of Italian immigration to Brazil.
Chakhchakh / Baboon
Chakhchakh / Baboon
Term
Chakhchakh / Baboon
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Mizrahi Jews
Meaning, origin and notes
An Israeli derogatory nickname that was common in the 20th century. The term is probably based on the accent immigrants from Islamic countries spoke.
Chakma
Chakma
Term
Chakma
Location or origin
Bangladesh
Targets
Jumma and Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
The term "Chakma" comes from the name of an ethnic group known as Chakma and is used to refer to people with Mongoloid features in Bangladesh, especially Chinese, and other indigenous groups from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Chankoro
Chankoro
Term
Chankoro
Location or origin
Japan
Targets
Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Japanese: チャンコロ, a Japanese reference to a Chinese person. Often given as either derived from Chinese: 清國虜; pinyin: Qīngguólǔ (lit. 'Qing prisoner') or Chinese: 中國人; pinyin: Zhōngguórén (lit. 'Chinese person')
Charlie
Charlie
Term
Charlie
Location or origin
United States
Targets
White Americans
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in the 1960s–1970s. White people as a reified collective oppressor group, similar to The Man or The System.
United States
United States
Term
United States
Location or origin
Vietnamese people
Targets
Vietnam War slang term used by American troops as a shorthand term for Vietnamese guerrillas, derived from the verbal shorthand for "Victor Charlie", the NATO phonetic alphabet for VC, the abbreviation for Viet Cong. The (regular) North Vietnamese Army was referred to as "Mr. Charles".
China Swede
China Swede
Term
China Swede
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Finns
Meaning, origin and notes
Derogatory term for Finnish immigrants to the United States, particularly in Minnesota and Michigan.
Chee-chee, Chi-chi
Chee-chee, Chi-chi
Term
Chee-chee, Chi-chi
Location or origin
South Asia
Targets
Eurasian Mixed-race people, especially Anglo-Indians
Meaning, origin and notes
Probably derived from Hindi chi-chi fie!, literally, dirt.
Cheese-eating surrender monkeys
Cheese-eating surrender monkeys
Term
Cheese-eating surrender monkeys
Location or origin
United States
Targets
French people
Meaning, origin and notes
The term originated with a 1995 episode of The Simpsons.
Chefur (čefur)
Chefur (čefur)
Term
Chefur (čefur)
Location or origin
Slovenia
Targets
Non-Slovenian people of former Yugoslavia (Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Montenegrins, Macedonians)
Tsekwa / Chekwa
Tsekwa / Chekwa
Term
Tsekwa / Chekwa
Location or origin
Philippines
Targets
Chinese Filipino people
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in Filipino/Tagalog and other Philippine languages, which derived it from the late 19th century Cebuano Bisaya street children's limerick, Cebuano: Intsik, wákang, káun, kalibang!, lit. 'Chinese (laborer), I work, eat, and shit!', where "Intsik"/"Insik" is derived from the Philippine Hokkien term, Chinese: 𪜶 叔; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: in chek; lit. 'his/
Chernomazy
Chernomazy
Term
Chernomazy
Location or origin
Russia
Targets
Black-skinned people, e . Africans or indigenous people from the Caucasus, e . from Chechnya or Azerbaijan.
Meaning, origin and notes
черномазый, meaning "smeared in black" in Russian.
Chernozhopy
Chernozhopy
Term
Chernozhopy
Location or origin
Russia
Targets
Same as, but more insulting than, "chernomazy"
Meaning, origin and notes
черножопый, or chornaya zhopa, meaning "black-arse" in Russian.
Chilango
Chilango
Term
Chilango
Location or origin
Mexico
Targets
Mexico City inhabitants
Chilote
Chilote
Term
Chilote
Location or origin
Argentina
Targets
Chilean people
Chinaman
Chinaman
Term
Chinaman
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
A calque of the Chinese 中國人. It was used in the gold rush and railway-construction eras in western United States when discrimination against the Chinese was common.
Ching chong
Ching chong
Term
Ching chong
Location or origin
China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines
Targets
Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Mocking a person or language perceived to be of Chinese descent.
Chink
Chink
Term
Chink
Location or origin
China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines
Targets
East and South East Asians
Chinky / Chinky Chonky
Chinky / Chinky Chonky
Term
Chinky / Chinky Chonky
Location or origin
China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines
Targets
East and South East Asians
Chirigüillo / Chiriwillo
Chirigüillo / Chiriwillo
Term
Chirigüillo / Chiriwillo
Location or origin
Mexico
Targets
Non-White Mexican migrants
Meaning, origin and notes
A pejorative term used in the state of Nuevo León to refer to Mexicans from white-minority regions who are singled out for their ethnicity, skin color, or rural origin.
Chonky
Chonky
Term
Chonky
Targets
Asian people
Meaning, origin and notes
Refers to a person of Asian heritage with "white attributes", in either personality or appearance.
Christ-killer
Christ-killer
Term
Christ-killer
Targets
Jewish people
Meaning, origin and notes
An allusion to Jewish deicide.
Choc ice
Choc ice
Term
Choc ice
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
A person who is figuratively "black on the outside, white on the inside".
Cholo
Cholo
Term
Cholo
Location or origin
Latin America, Southwestern United States
Targets
Indigenous or Mestizo people
Meaning, origin and notes
It may be derogatory depending on circumstances.
Chile
Chile
Term
Chile
Location or origin
Bolivian people, Peruvian people
Chon / Baka-Chon
Chon / Baka-Chon
Term
Chon / Baka-Chon
Location or origin
Japan
Targets
Korean people
Chow
Chow
Term
Chow
Location or origin
Australia
Targets
Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Used as early as 1864, rare now
Chowmein
Chowmein
Term
Chowmein
Location or origin
India
Targets
Chinese people, Northeast Indians
Chuchmek (Russian: чучмек) / Chechmek (Russian: чечмек)
Chuchmek (Russian: чучмек) / Chechmek (Russian: чечмек)
Term
Chuchmek (Russian: чучмек) / Chechmek (Russian: чечмек)
Location or origin
Russia / Russian-speaking regions
Targets
Middle / Central Asian people (in rare instances people from the Caucasus), in a broader sense Non-Russians, Non-European-looking people
Meaning, origin and notes
From Chichimec, a derogatory term used by the Aztecs and other Mesoamericans to describe the Chichimecs as "uncivilized, aggressive savages", similar to how the ancient Romans called Germanic tribes "barbarians". This name, with its derogatory meaning, was later adopted and brought to Europe by Spanish conquerors.
Chug
Chug
Term
Chug
Location or origin
Canada
Targets
Canadian aboriginal people
Meaning, origin and notes
See Chugach for the native people.
Chukhonets (plural chukhoncy), chukhna
Chukhonets (plural chukhoncy), chukhna
Term
Chukhonets (plural chukhoncy), chukhna
Location or origin
Russia
Targets
Finnic people
Churka (Russian: чурка)
Churka (Russian: чурка)
Term
Churka (Russian: чурка)
Location or origin
Russia
Targets
Western and Central Asians
Meaning, origin and notes
1. Chock of wood
2. Ignorant person
Ciapaty, ciapak
Ciapaty, ciapak
Term
Ciapaty, ciapak
Location or origin
Poland
Targets
Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Caucasian people.
Meaning, origin and notes
Derived from chapati.
Cigányforma
Cigányforma
Term
Cigányforma
Location or origin
Hungary
Targets
Persons with the combination of black hair with brown eyes, regardless of ethnicity
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in 17th century Hungary; literal meaning is "gypsy form"
Cigány népek
Cigány népek
Term
Cigány népek
Location or origin
Hungary
Targets
Ethnic groups or nations where the combination of black hair with brown eyes is dominant
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in 17th century Hungary; literal meaning is "gypsy folks"
Cioară
Cioară
Term
Cioară
Location or origin
Romania
Targets
Romani people and Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Means crow
Cina / Cokin
Cina / Cokin
Term
Cina / Cokin
Location or origin
Indonesia
Targets
Chinese people
Meaning, origin and notes
Use in media has been banned since 2014 under Keppres (Keputusan Presiden, lit. Presidential Decree) No. 12 of 2014, replaced by Tiongkok (from Zhongguo 中国) or Tionghoa (from Zhonghua 中华). The Keppres even bans use of "China" in media and formal use.
Coconut
Coconut
Term
Coconut
Location or origin
United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia
Targets
Hispanics/Latinos, South/Southeast Asians
Meaning, origin and notes
Named after the coconut, in the American sense, it derives from the fact that a coconut is brown on the outside and white on the inside. A person of Hispanic/Latino or South/Southeast Asian descent who is seen as being assimilated into white American culture.
South Asians
South Asians
Term
South Asians
Location or origin
A brown person of South Asian descent is perceived as fully assimilated into Western culture.
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Term
Pacific Islander
Colono
Colono
Term
Colono
Location or origin
Brazil (mainly Rio Grande do Sul)
Targets
Italian Brazilians and German Brazilians
Meaning, origin and notes
Although it is not generally considered an insult in other parts of Brazil, in Rio Grande do Sul it is considered pejorative because it is considered an offensive nickname similar to Caipira and is given to those who are native to the Rio Grande do Sul countryside (mainly Caxias do Sul and Bento Gonçalves), who are descendants of Italians or German
Coño
Coño
Term
Coño
Location or origin
Chile
Targets
Spanish people
Meaning, origin and notes
Used in to refer to Spanish people given the perception that they recurrently use the vulgar interjection coño (lit. 'cunt').
Coolie
Coolie
Term
Coolie
Location or origin
United States, Canada
Targets
Asian people, usually Chinese, and Indo-Caribbean people
Meaning, origin and notes
Unskilled Asian laborer (originally used in the 19th century for Chinese railroad laborers). Possibly from Mandarin "苦力" ku li or Hindi kuli, "day laborer." Also racial epithet for Indo-Caribbean people, especially in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and South African Indians.
Coon, cooney
Coon, cooney
Term
Coon, cooney
Location or origin
United States, Commonwealth
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
Slur popularized by Coon songs played at Minstrel show. Originally associated in the 1830s with the U . Whig Party who used a raccoon as their emblem. The Whigs were more tolerant towards blacks than other main parties. After the party folded the term "coon" evolved from political slang into a racial slur. Within African American communities, the
Australia
Australia
Term
Australia
Location or origin
Aboriginal Australian
New Zealand
New Zealand
Term
New Zealand
Location or origin
Pacific Islander
Coonass, Coon-ass
Coonass, Coon-ass
Term
Coonass, Coon-ass
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Cajun people
Meaning, origin and notes
Not to be confused with the French connasse, meaning cunt.
Coreano
Coreano
Term
Coreano
Location or origin
Chile
Targets
Chinese and Japanese people
Cotton picker
Cotton picker
Term
Cotton picker
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Individuals of African descent, including African-Americans and Cape Coloureds or Coloureds
Meaning, origin and notes
Historically referred to someone who harvested cotton by hand, often used in the context of American slavery when enslaved black people were forced to pick cotton on plantations. The phrase originally referred to the actual occupation of picking cotton on plantations in the American South, but that it later became a racial slur used to denigrate pe
Cracker
Cracker
Term
Cracker
Location or origin
United States
Targets
White people, especially poor Appalachian and Southern people
Meaning, origin and notes
Entered general use in the United States as a pejorative for white people, though may be used neutrally in context. Can specifically refer to white settlers, as with Florida or Georgia crackers.
Crow
Crow
Term
Crow
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Black people
Crucco (m.), crucca (f.)
Crucco (m.), crucca (f.)
Term
Crucco (m.), crucca (f.)
Location or origin
Italy
Targets
German people
Meaning, origin and notes
From Serbo-Croatian kruh, meaning "bread". In WWI used for Austro-Hungarian prisoners of Croatian and Slovenian ethnicity in Italian camps because, when hungry, they supposedly begged for kruh. Later the term was used to indicate the Germans.
Culchie
Culchie
Term
Culchie
Location or origin
Ireland
Targets
Rural Irish people
Meaning, origin and notes
Applied by townspeople or city folk as a condescending or pejorative reference to people from rural areas.
Curepí
Curepí
Term
Curepí
Location or origin
Paraguay
Targets
Argentines
Meaning, origin and notes
A common term used by people from Paraguay for people from Argentina, it means "pig's skin".
Curry-muncher
Curry-muncher
Term
Curry-muncher
Location or origin
Australia, Africa, New Zealand, United States, Canada
Targets
South Asian People
Cushi, Kushi (כושי)
Cushi, Kushi (כושי)
Term
Cushi, Kushi (כושי)
Location or origin
Israel
Targets
Dark-skinned African people
Meaning, origin and notes
Term originated from Kushite, referring to an individual from the Ancient Kingdom of Kush. This was also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible generally used to refer to people usually of African descent. Originally merely descriptive, in present-day Israel it increasingly assumed a pejorative connotation and is regarded as insulting by Ethiopian Israelis;
Czarnuch (m.), czarnucha (f.)
Czarnuch (m.), czarnucha (f.)
Term
Czarnuch (m.), czarnucha (f.)
Location or origin
Poland
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
From "czarny" (black). Equivalent of nigger.
| Term | Location or origin | Targets | Meaning, origin and notes | Ref |
| Cabbage eater | German and Russian people | |||
| Cacariso, Cagariso | Italy | East Asian people | Literally "rice shitter" | |
| Canaca | Chile | Chinese and Japanese people | Canaca is a slur originating in Oceania. | |
| Camel jockey | Middle Eastern people | |||
| Camel drivers | Germany | Arabs and Turks | ||
| Camel riders | Israel | Arabs | ||
| Carcamano | Brazil | Italian people | Used during the early 20th century, during the Second wave of Italian immigration to Brazil. | |
| Chakhchakh / Baboon | Israel | Mizrahi Jews | An Israeli derogatory nickname that was common in the 20th century. The term is probably based on the accent immigrants from Islamic countries spoke. | |
| Chakma | Bangladesh | Jumma and Chinese people | The term "Chakma" comes from the name of an ethnic group known as Chakma and is used to refer to people with Mongoloid features in Bangladesh, especially Chinese, and other indigenous groups from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. | |
| Chankoro | Japan | Chinese people | Japanese: チャンコロ, a Japanese reference to a Chinese person. Often given as either derived from Chinese: 清國虜; pinyin: Qīngguólǔ (lit. 'Qing prisoner') or Chinese: 中國人; pinyin: Zhōngguórén (lit. 'Chinese person') | |
| Charlie | United States | White Americans | Used in the 1960s–1970s. White people as a reified collective oppressor group, similar to The Man or The System. | |
| United States | Vietnamese people | Vietnam War slang term used by American troops as a shorthand term for Vietnamese guerrillas, derived from the verbal shorthand for "Victor Charlie", the NATO phonetic alphabet for VC, the abbreviation for Viet Cong. The (regular) North Vietnamese Army was referred to as "Mr. Charles". | ||
| China Swede | United States | Finns | Derogatory term for Finnish immigrants to the United States, particularly in Minnesota and Michigan. | |
| Chee-chee, Chi-chi | South Asia | Eurasian Mixed-race people, especially Anglo-Indians | Probably derived from Hindi chi-chi fie!, literally, dirt. | |
| Cheese-eating surrender monkeys | United States | French people | The term originated with a 1995 episode of The Simpsons. | |
| Chefur (čefur) | Slovenia | Non-Slovenian people of former Yugoslavia (Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Montenegrins, Macedonians) | ||
| Tsekwa / Chekwa | Philippines | Chinese Filipino people | Used in Filipino/Tagalog and other Philippine languages, which derived it from the late 19th century Cebuano Bisaya street children's limerick, Cebuano: Intsik, wákang, káun, kalibang!, lit. 'Chinese (laborer), I work, eat, and shit!', where "Intsik"/"Insik" is derived from the Philippine Hokkien term, Chinese: 𪜶 叔; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: in chek; lit. 'his/ | |
| Chernomazy | Russia | Black-skinned people, e . Africans or indigenous people from the Caucasus, e . from Chechnya or Azerbaijan. | черномазый, meaning "smeared in black" in Russian. | |
| Chernozhopy | Russia | Same as, but more insulting than, "chernomazy" | черножопый, or chornaya zhopa, meaning "black-arse" in Russian. | |
| Chilango | Mexico | Mexico City inhabitants | ||
| Chilote | Argentina | Chilean people | ||
| Chinaman | United States, Canada | Chinese people | A calque of the Chinese 中國人. It was used in the gold rush and railway-construction eras in western United States when discrimination against the Chinese was common. | |
| Ching chong | China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines | Chinese people | Mocking a person or language perceived to be of Chinese descent. | |
| Chink | China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines | East and South East Asians | ||
| Chinky / Chinky Chonky | China, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines | East and South East Asians | ||
| Chirigüillo / Chiriwillo | Mexico | Non-White Mexican migrants | A pejorative term used in the state of Nuevo León to refer to Mexicans from white-minority regions who are singled out for their ethnicity, skin color, or rural origin. | |
| Chonky | Asian people | Refers to a person of Asian heritage with "white attributes", in either personality or appearance. | ||
| Christ-killer | Jewish people | An allusion to Jewish deicide. | ||
| Choc ice | Black people | A person who is figuratively "black on the outside, white on the inside". | ||
| Cholo | Latin America, Southwestern United States | Indigenous or Mestizo people | It may be derogatory depending on circumstances. | |
| Chile | Bolivian people, Peruvian people | |||
| Chon / Baka-Chon | Japan | Korean people | ||
| Chow | Australia | Chinese people | Used as early as 1864, rare now | |
| Chowmein | India | Chinese people, Northeast Indians | ||
| Chuchmek (Russian: чучмек) / Chechmek (Russian: чечмек) | Russia / Russian-speaking regions | Middle / Central Asian people (in rare instances people from the Caucasus), in a broader sense Non-Russians, Non-European-looking people | From Chichimec, a derogatory term used by the Aztecs and other Mesoamericans to describe the Chichimecs as "uncivilized, aggressive savages", similar to how the ancient Romans called Germanic tribes "barbarians". This name, with its derogatory meaning, was later adopted and brought to Europe by Spanish conquerors. | |
| Chug | Canada | Canadian aboriginal people | See Chugach for the native people. | |
| Chukhonets (plural chukhoncy), chukhna | Russia | Finnic people | ||
| Churka (Russian: чурка) | Russia | Western and Central Asians | 1. Chock of wood 2. Ignorant person | |
| Ciapaty, ciapak | Poland | Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Caucasian people. | Derived from chapati. | |
| Cigányforma | Hungary | Persons with the combination of black hair with brown eyes, regardless of ethnicity | Used in 17th century Hungary; literal meaning is "gypsy form" | |
| Cigány népek | Hungary | Ethnic groups or nations where the combination of black hair with brown eyes is dominant | Used in 17th century Hungary; literal meaning is "gypsy folks" | |
| Cioară | Romania | Romani people and Black people | Means crow | |
| Cina / Cokin | Indonesia | Chinese people | Use in media has been banned since 2014 under Keppres (Keputusan Presiden, lit. Presidential Decree) No. 12 of 2014, replaced by Tiongkok (from Zhongguo 中国) or Tionghoa (from Zhonghua 中华). The Keppres even bans use of "China" in media and formal use. | |
| Coconut | United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia | Hispanics/Latinos, South/Southeast Asians | Named after the coconut, in the American sense, it derives from the fact that a coconut is brown on the outside and white on the inside. A person of Hispanic/Latino or South/Southeast Asian descent who is seen as being assimilated into white American culture. | |
| South Asians | A brown person of South Asian descent is perceived as fully assimilated into Western culture. | |||
| Pacific Islander | ||||
| Colono | Brazil (mainly Rio Grande do Sul) | Italian Brazilians and German Brazilians | Although it is not generally considered an insult in other parts of Brazil, in Rio Grande do Sul it is considered pejorative because it is considered an offensive nickname similar to Caipira and is given to those who are native to the Rio Grande do Sul countryside (mainly Caxias do Sul and Bento Gonçalves), who are descendants of Italians or German | |
| Coño | Chile | Spanish people | Used in to refer to Spanish people given the perception that they recurrently use the vulgar interjection coño (lit. 'cunt'). | |
| Coolie | United States, Canada | Asian people, usually Chinese, and Indo-Caribbean people | Unskilled Asian laborer (originally used in the 19th century for Chinese railroad laborers). Possibly from Mandarin "苦力" ku li or Hindi kuli, "day laborer." Also racial epithet for Indo-Caribbean people, especially in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and South African Indians. |
Ethnic slurs beginning with d · D
Dago, Dego
Dago, Dego
Term
Dago, Dego
Location or origin
United States, Commonwealth
Targets
Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, Portuguese or Maltese people; in the United States, primarily used for Italians and people of Italian descent
Meaning, origin and notes
Possibly derived from the Spanish name "Diego"
Dal Khor
Dal Khor
Term
Dal Khor
Location or origin
Pakistan
Targets
Indians and Pakistanis (specifically Punjabis)
Meaning, origin and notes
The term literally translates to "dal eater", connoting the supposedly higher emphasis on pulses and vegetables in the diet of countryside Punjabis.
Dalle, Batak Dalle
Dalle, Batak Dalle
Term
Dalle, Batak Dalle
Location or origin
Indonesia
Targets
Batak people
Meaning, origin and notes
Bataks who cannot speak their language or reject Batak culture.
Darky / Darkey / Darkie
Darky / Darkey / Darkie
Term
Darky / Darkey / Darkie
Location or origin
Worldwide
Targets
Black people
Meaning, origin and notes
According to lexicographer Richard A. Spears, the word "darkie" used to be considered mild and polite, before it took on a derogatory and provocative meaning.
DEI / DEI hire / Diversity hire
DEI / DEI hire / Diversity hire
Term
DEI / DEI hire / Diversity hire
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Women and people of color (especially Black people)
Meaning, origin and notes
The term is sometimes used to imply that women, non-white people, and members of the LGBTQ community are inherently unqualified for positions of power, and that they can only get jobs through tokenism.
Dhoti
Dhoti
Term
Dhoti
Location or origin
Nepal
Targets
Indian or Madheshi people
Meaning, origin and notes
As reference to their indigenous clothing Dhoti worn by people of Indian subcontinent.
Dink
Dink
Term
Dink
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Southeast Asian, particularly Vietnamese people.
Meaning, origin and notes
Originated during 1965–70 Americanism. Also used as a disparaging term for a North Vietnamese soldier or guerrilla in the Vietnam War. (Note: If rendered in ALL CAPS, then DINK may be the benign lifestyle acronym for dual-income, no kids [a couple with two incomes and no child-raising expenses])
Dogan, dogun
Dogan, dogun
Term
Dogan, dogun
Location or origin
Canada
Targets
Irish Catholics
Meaning, origin and notes
19th century on; origin uncertain: perhaps from Dugan, an Irish surname.
Dothead, Dot
Dothead, Dot
Term
Dothead, Dot
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Hindu women
Meaning, origin and notes
In reference to the bindi.
Dune coon
Dune coon
Term
Dune coon
Location or origin
United States
Targets
Arabian people
Meaning, origin and notes
equivalent of sand nigger (below). See also Islamophobic trope.
| Term | Location or origin | Targets | Meaning, origin and notes | Ref |
| Dago, Dego | United States, Commonwealth | Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, Portuguese or Maltese people; in the United States, primarily used for Italians and people of Italian descent | Possibly derived from the Spanish name "Diego" | |
| Dal Khor | Pakistan | Indians and Pakistanis (specifically Punjabis) | The term literally translates to "dal eater", connoting the supposedly higher emphasis on pulses and vegetables in the diet of countryside Punjabis. | |
| Dalle, Batak Dalle | Indonesia | Batak people | Bataks who cannot speak their language or reject Batak culture. | |
| Darky / Darkey / Darkie | Worldwide | Black people | According to lexicographer Richard A. Spears, the word "darkie" used to be considered mild and polite, before it took on a derogatory and provocative meaning. | |
| DEI / DEI hire / Diversity hire | United States | Women and people of color (especially Black people) | The term is sometimes used to imply that women, non-white people, and members of the LGBTQ community are inherently unqualified for positions of power, and that they can only get jobs through tokenism. | |
| Dhoti | Nepal | Indian or Madheshi people | As reference to their indigenous clothing Dhoti worn by people of Indian subcontinent. | |
| Dink | United States | Southeast Asian, particularly Vietnamese people. | Originated during 1965–70 Americanism. Also used as a disparaging term for a North Vietnamese soldier or guerrilla in the Vietnam War. (Note: If rendered in ALL CAPS, then DINK may be the benign lifestyle acronym for dual-income, no kids [a couple with two incomes and no child-raising expenses]) | |
| Dogan, dogun | Canada | Irish Catholics | 19th century on; origin uncertain: perhaps from Dugan, an Irish surname. | |
| Dothead, Dot | United States | Hindu women | In reference to the bindi. | |
| Dune coon | United States | Arabian people | equivalent of sand nigger (below). See also Islamophobic trope. |
References
- Not to be confused with the slang word Chonky.
- Spears (2001), p. 1.
- Chinese American Names: Tradition and Transition2008https://books.google.com/books?id=IGAClRACrsYC&pg=PA66
- Peripheral Centres, Central Peripheries: India and Its Diaspora(s)2006https://books.google.com/books?id=MCz682epff8C&pg=PA113
- The Diversity Style Guide2019https://books.google.com/books?id=MZlxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA305
- War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan
- Moore (2004), p. 3, "abo"
- Green (2005), p. 10, 1003https://books.google.com/books?id=5GpLcC4a5fAC&pg=PA10
- Car & Motorcycle Slang1992https://books.google.com/books?id=973n3OipN-4C
- South China Morning Post2018https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2128326/where-do-you-stand-racist-hong-kong-heres-something-chew
- Surviving Iraq: Soldiers' Stories
- Spears (2001), p. 6.