What Did You Call Me?! Slurs and Slang for Americans Abroad

He rocks cargo shorts and a baseball cap, tilted at a jaunty angle day and night; he swigs from a bottle of cheap beer wherever he goes; he smothers his steak in ketchup; he waves his American passport like a carte blanche; he yells at the top of his lungs and dishes out high fives like his palms hold the power of the Almighty. He is: the ugly American!

It’s no wonder that American folk don’t always have the best reputation abroad: combine our sometimes cocky attitude with a decidedly unsavory political reputation, and you’ve got a recipe for some good old-fashioned America-bashing from disgruntled denizens around the world. And who can blame them? Those French guys at the cafe comparing your governor to the Terminator? Those Germans at the bar bashing your beer? Those Brazilians at the club bemoaning your white-boy booty shake? They have some pretty good points.

What you can do is arm yourself with knowledge. Know the words they’re using to bash you and the bash might lose its bite. Following are some of the many words around the world used (sometimes lovingly, sometimes mockingly) to call out foreigners, and Americans in particular.

Asia

Laowai

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Probably one of the most common words you’ll hear walking around any Chinese city or town, laowai (老外) literally means “old foreigner,” but doesn’t necessarily carry the bad connotation it appears to. In fact, it’s mainly just a casual form of waiguoren (外国人), which means “foreign country person.” The “lao” in laowai is a prefix added to many words in Chinese, sometimes respectfully (as in, laoshi [老师 ]; “teacher”) and sometimes jeeringly (as in, lao dongxi [老东西]; “silly old fool”).

The truth about this word is all in the context. Although the Chinese language dictionary remarks that laowai carries a slightly bantering connotation, one should not take it offensively if a new Chinese friend at, say, the bar were to call them laowai; chances are, they mean it affectionately. If, on the other hand, one were to hear this term yelled at them angrily on the street, the bantering intent could be surmised.

Gwai-lo

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Laowai, however, is nothing compared to some of China’s older, less fashionable words for foreigners. (Xi) yangguizi ((西 )洋鬼子; literally, “(western) ocean ghost”) is a definite no-no for the modern citizen of the People’s Republic. The word, popular in the early 20th century, carries a heavy anti-foreigner sentiment and is recognized as racist and inappropriate in today’s society.

Similarly, the Cantonese term, gwai-lo (鬼佬), has a long history of deprecatory use in Chinese culture. The word literally means “ghost man,” clearly referring to the white skin of foreign Caucasians. Both gwai-lo and (xi) yangguizi were popularized around the same time, and they both carry a loose meaning of “white devil.” The former was used in the south of China, while the latter was used in the north, mainly referring to Europeans (from the “western sea”). More culturally sensitive Chinese speakers now use the polite say-yan (西人; “western person”) in place of gwai-lo or yangguizi.

Ang Mo

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Ang Mo (红毛; “red hair”) also, ang mo kow (“red haired monkey”) and ang mo kui (“red hair devil”) are racial epithets used to refer to white people in Malaysia and Singapore. Despite the seemingly obvious racial bigotry they carry, the terms are widely used in these countries to refer to any white person, not just those with red hair. Kind of like referring to all westerners as “ginger.”

Even though the local expat community feels that these terms carry a pejorative meaning, they are found in newspapers, films, and everyday conversations. So, if you hear somebody say “ang mo” or even “ang mo kui” while walking down the street, you’d be best advised to take it with a grain of salt, as the speaker probably has put no malicious intent behind the word. If, however, somebody calls you this to your face while you’re struggling to get a good grip on your chopsticks, it might be time to reassess the situation.

Gaijin

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Like many terms for foreigners throughout Asia and the world, the question of whether or not the word gaijin (外人; “foreign person”) is offensive is still up for debate, and the answer is largely tied to context. Although there is a more formal and polite word (gaikokujin [外国人]; “foreign country person”), gaijin is what you’ll hear in most casual conversations between Japanese speakers. Interestingly, you won’t hear this word used at all in films or on television, probably as a way to avoid controversy entirely.

As with many words in Japanese, context is key. Hearing this word yelled from a bullhorn atop a nationalist propaganda van flying a WWII-era rising sun flag, you’ll feel the discriminatory intent. Hearing it from your old Japanese friend, you’ll appreciate his more casual, relaxed demeanor.

Farang

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Farang, in Thai, means both “foreigner” and “guava fruit.” Thus, its prominence as the subject of jokes among Thai people, especially when they spot an unsuspecting tourist enjoying a guava. The origins of this Thai word for “white foreigner” are unclear. Some say it came from the Thai word for French (farangset), and evolved into a term referring to all white foreigners. Indeed, the sound “farang” has evolved into a suffix placed at the end of many words to denote their foreign nature. (Man farang means “potato,” which came from Europe, while man alone can mean any kind of tuber.)

A more convincing theory about the origin of the word is that it derives from an earlier Persian word (farangi) that came from contact with the Franks during the Middle Ages. This theory is backed up by the fact that many other languages throughout the Middle East and South Asia have cognates for farang that also mean “foreigner.” Arabic, Amharic, and Urdu have faranji or ferenji; and Hindi has firangi.

Gora, etc.

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India’s Hindi language is full of colorfully offensive words for foreigners and Americans in particular. Among English-speaking South-Asians, the term gora is popular for referring to white people, and has taken on just a hint of offensiveness.

The Hindi-ized word for “English” (angrez) can, understandably, be used to refer to all white foreigners, although it might be especially stinging to those of British origin. Similarly, the Hindi-ized word for “American” (amrici) might be a word that the nephews of Uncle Sam should keep an ear open for. Although neither is specifically offensive, both can give the tourist an idea that maybe those around are talking about him, especially if he is currently asking for his third helping of naan.

The topper for Hindi, however, has to be gora behenchod. The meaning of gora, you already know; the meaning of behenchod implies sexual relations with one’s sister. Throw an expletive on there and you’ve got the whole thing. (Hint: the expletive starts with F and ends with -er.)

Latin America

Gringo

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Good old gringo. After scouring the web for offensive terms referring to foreigners in countries all over the world, this one stands out as comforting, comprehensible, and even comical among the masses of hate words out there. It’s like the mac ‘n cheese of racial slurs. You know where you stand with gringo: one imagines a middle-aged balding man in socks and sandals on the beach, sipping an umbrella-drink, pale skin reflecting the sun’s rays as a beacon to all that yes, here is a gringo.

The use of gringo is spread throughout Latin America, and carries slightly different connotations across different countries and regions. Sometimes it refers to any foreigners, and sometimes only to Americans. It could be used affectionately (as in, “Let me show you gringos how to drink tequila”), or pejoratively (as in, “Who invited all the damn gringos?”). Either way, it’s hard to get too offended by this term so ingrained in our own culture. One could even say that, in many ways, the gringos have taken the word back.

Ianque

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Stripped of its American north/south distinction, Ianque (Yankee) is another term used throughout Latin America to refer to Americans. Unlike ambiguous gringo, which could refer to any foreigner, Ianque is a clear reference to Americans and Americans only – just how we like it. Take the stereotypical gringo, slap a pair of Oakley’s (complete with Croakies) and a Senor Frog’s T-shirt on him, and you have a pretty good idea of what makes a Ianque.

Really, this is no different than when Brits call us “Yankee” or “Yank,” except for the obvious orthographical discrepancy. It shouldn’t cause too much distress for the wandering American to hear this word used in reference to himself.

Bolillo, Gabacho, Güero

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Mexicans have a few other slang words they might unleash on the occasional white person. None of them are particularly offensive on their own, but may carry racist or nationalist undertones when used effectively. Bolillo usually refers to a type of French bread made in bakeries across Mexico and Latin America, but because of the white interior of the bread, has also come to refer to Caucasian people (especially those from North America).

Gabacho carries multiple meanings, depending on where you are. Mexican-Americans use it to talk about white Americans condescendingly; in Mexico, people use it as a slightly stronger alternative to gringo, referring to both the people and the country of America.

Güero is used in Mexico as both and adjective and a noun for people with light skin and blonde hair. It may carry the same feeling as “white boy,” as in, “Check out that white boy on the dance floor.” Güero is used not just for foreigners, but for anybody matching the physical description. These terms are all going to be frequently heard in and around tourist traps and popular resorts, perhaps especially along the Gringo Trail.

North America

Wasi’chu

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Even in our own backyard, there are people taunting and jeering at Americans with home-spun slurs. Native Americans, armed with historically righteous animosity, have come up with a delightful array of slanderous terms for the “Americans” now inhabiting the strip of land between Canada and Mexico. The Lakota and Dakota people, for example, have devised the term wasi’chu as their contribution to the anti-American lexicon. They’ve come to associate this word, which means “white people” or “people of non-indigenous descent,” with another (wašin icu) which means “taking the fat” or “greedy.”

Haole

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Native Hawaiians refer to foreigners (especially Americans) as haole. The etymology of this word is unclear, but most of the theories on the word’s origin point to bad vibes. Some say the word came into use because it can mean “no breath,” referring to the fact that European missionaries did not breathe life into their prayers like the natives did, or that they didn’t follow the practice of greeting by touching noses and breathing into each other’s faces. Others say that it implies “robber” (hao, “thief” and le, “lazy”).

Europe

American

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Europeans generally don’t need a special word to refer to the ugly American within ear-shot. A simple use of the word “American,” said with just the right subtle sneer and distasteful look to the mouth, can be more than enough to make for a powerful slur. There is something truly offensive about how the French (or worse, Quebecois) pronounce the word: deep, glottal friction on the R; long and nasally at the end.

Big people that we are, Americans can forgive the Europeans (yes, I am going to lump them all together) for their sometimes bizarre tastes, chalking up their disdain for our country to a big misunderstanding. After all, how could they hate the country that brought them Coca-Cola, enchiritos, and Lady Gaga?

Septic Tank

Image: Fr. Dylan/Picasaweb

Those familiar with Cockney rhyming slang should be able to understand why the Croc-rocking American tourist might occasionally be called a “Septic Tank” in England (and it’s not because of the smell). The origins of this term go deep into the British psyche, and its creation surely culled Brits’ ability to subtly insult to the extreme.

Let’s go back to Limeys’ favorite term for Americans: Yankee. As in Mexico and Canada, there’s no north/south distinction here; all Americans are inherently Yankees, or Yanks. Hey, septic tank rhymes with Yank! Hence the popularity of the derogatory name – and its endearing variant, Seppo – across England and Australia. Also keep an ear open for “Wooden Plank,” a similarly derived jeer.

Merkin

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A popular name for Americans among English-speaking foreigners, Merkin has only recently appeared on the slur scene, having previously referred to something else altogether. Although the word still can refer to “a pubic wig, originally worn by prostitutes after shaving their genitalia,” it has become a tongue-in-cheek reference to the way that many Americans pronounce the name of their country, and by extension has become a name for America itself.

The term first gained prominence in the 1960s, when people began mimicking American English speakers’ half-formed pronunciation of the words for America (‘merka) and American (‘merkin) (especially by President Lyndon B. Johnson). Today, it’s an especially stinging slur because of its implications that Americans are uneducated and unable to pronounce the name of their own country, and because of the accuracy of such claims, as evidenced by a certain recent president’s diction.

Africa

Muzungu

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Keep your ears open for calls of “muzungu!” if you’re traveling through east, central, or southern Africa. Many of the Bantu languages there have adopted this word for “white person,” or a variation of it, into their language, and there’s a good chance that this is what they will use first to refer to you when they catch you skinny dipping with the hippopotamus.

The word comes from a contraction of words meaning “one who moves around,” referring to European traders who traveled around East Africa in the 18th century. Even if you’re not doing something totally dumb, there’s a good chance somebody will call you muzungu at some point, since it can also be used in a positive sense. Especially in Uganda and Kenya, the word carries a meaning of somebody who is important, or to be revered.

Glowing Ears and Peeled Bananas

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One of the more illustrative of the world’s terms for white people is indlebe zikhayi langa, used by the Zulu people of South Africa. Literally, it means “those whose ears glow in the sun.” It’s a fun one for everyone to use, since the image so easily stands out in (or, from) one’s head, especially in the sweltering South African sun.

Another strangely accurate descriptive term for white people can be found among Nigeria’s Yoruba people. Oyinbo is used throughout Nigeria to refer to any Caucasian foreigner, and literally might mean something like “peeled like a banana,” although the etymology of the word isn’t totally clear.