List of ethnic slurs

The following is a list of ethnic slurs that are, or have been, used to refer to members of a given ethnicity (or in some cases, nationality, region, or religion) in a derogatory or pejorative manner. The term is listed, followed by its primary user(s) and a definition.

K

;Kacap (Katsap) : (Ukraine, 'Кацап') insulting term for a Russian. Means 'goat', derived from the beards Russians have been wearing in the past.

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;Kaffer : (Germany) a black person. See Kaffir.

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;Kaffir : (South Africa) a black person. Very offensive. Origin is disputed. Possibly from the Arab word meaning 'non-muslim', perhaps originating in the East African Slave Trade which was largely run by Arabians and migrating to South Africa. Usage: 'Kaffir Boy', a famous autobiographical book by Mark Mathabane about his childhood in South Africa. (The South African Consular General in Lethal Weapon 2 calls Mel Gibson 'kaffir lover'.)

Related Topics:
Kaffir - East African Slave Trade - Lethal Weapon 2

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;Kaka Siah : (Iran) same as Nigger.

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;Kakerlake : (Germany) insulting term for a Frenchman (literally, cockroach)

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;Kalla / kaalu / kalia : (Indians & Pakistanis) a black person - derived from the Hindi word 'kaala' meaning black

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;Kanake: (Germany) insulting term for a Turkish person

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;Kani : (Iceland) an American, particularly an American serviceman, contraction of the Icelandic word "Amerikani"

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;Kano : (Philippines) an American, contraction of the Tagalog word "Amerikano"

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;Kappa Kappa Kappa : (U.S.) racist frat boys, also a code name for the Ku Klux Klan.

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;Kartoffeln: (North Italy) refers to German people (based on the German word for potato)

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;Kash Root : (Northeast U.S.) a Jew obsessed with money - a bad pun involving money and Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut)

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;Katsivelos (Κατσίβελος): (Greece) a Gypsy. Not always derogatory, sometimes used to properly refer to a specific Gypsy clan rather than all Gypsies in general.

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;Katzenfresser : (Germany) term for Italians (means "cat eater"); rare

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;Keling : (Malaysia and Singapore) an Indian person. Very offensive.

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;Khachik : (?????: former Soviet Union) a person from Caucasus, from Armenian name Khachik

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;Khokhol : (?????: former Soviet Union) an Ukrainian person. Derived from traditional Ukrainian haircut.

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;Kibol : (Poland) troublesome soccer fan, derogatory; comes from the neutral word kibic (sports fan)

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;Kike : (U.S.) a Jew. Originally used by Western European Jewish immigrants to denigrate Eastern European Jews (whose names often ended in "ki"). Began as a form of Jewish differentiation before being "universalized" as a slur.

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;Kimchi : (North America) unflattering term for a Korean, from the spicy pickled Korean cabbage known for its offensive smell

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;Kiwi : (U.S. & UK Commonwealth) New Zealand nationals, derived from the fact Kiwi birds originate there. Not usually considered offensive.

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;Klan Bait : (U.S.) refers to a militant black person.

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;Knacker : (Ireland) reference to members of the travelling community in Ireland; the word "knacker" refers to someone who buys discarded structures and dismantles them to sell the materials.

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;Knife-nose : (U.S.) a Jew, from the stereotype of Jewish facial features.

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;Kojangi : (Korea) In Korea, white people are often called Kojangi. 'Ko' means 'nose' and 'jangi' means 'person'. So, roughly translated, 'Kojangi' means 'person with big nose'. It is considered an insult and quite derogatory, but Koreans use the term quite loosely.

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;Kool Smoker or Newport Smoker : (U.S.) black men (known for smoking strong menthol cigarettes)

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;Kosher Ghost : (Northeast U.S.) a Hassidic or Orthodox Jew - based on the belief that highly observant Jews have sexual intercourse through a hole in a sheet

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;Kosher Klansman : (Northeast U.S.) a Hassidic or Orthodox Jew - see "Kosher Ghost"

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;Kounty Kountry Klub : (U.S.) a code name for the Ku Klux Klan (other versions are also used)

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;Kraut : (North America & British Commonwealth) a German

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;Kugel : (South Africa) an affluent Jewish woman (literally, a bullet or sphere in German)

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;Kyoppo: (Korea) a Korean-American or Korean-Canadian. Not always used disparagingly.

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