In the English language, the word "nigger" is an ethnic slur, usually directed at black people. The word originated as a neutral term referring to people with black skin,[1] as a variation of the Spanish and Portuguese noun negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective niger ("black").[2] It was often used disparagingly, and by the mid-twentieth century, particularly in the United States, its usage became unambiguously pejorative, a racist insult. Accordingly, it began to disappear from popular culture, and its continued inclusion in classic works of literature has sparked controversy.
In the contemporary United States and United Kingdom, using the word is considered extremely offensive, and it is often replaced with the euphemism "the N-word". The variant "Nigga" is sometimes used among African Americans in a non-derogatory sense.
Contents
Etymology and history
Usages
British
North American
Cultural
Political
Sport
Nature
Denotational extension
Other languages
Literary
Popular culture
Cinema
Literature
Music
Theatre
Comedy
Derivations
Place names
Derivatives
The N-word euphemism
Homophones
Intragroup versus intergroup usage
See also
Footnotes
References
External links
Etymology and history