What does nigger mean?

Definitions for nigger
nig·ger

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word nigger.

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WiktionaryRate this definition:4.1 / 13 votes

niggernoun
A dark-skinned person, especially a person of, or primarily of, Negro descent.
niggernoun
A person of Negro descent who acts in an unapproved manner, usually as an archetypical badass.
I love black people, but I hate niggers. Chris Rock
niggernoun
Informal term of address.
niggerverb
To clear land by means of the niggering process.
niggerverb
To behave as a stereotypical black person.
niggerverb
To treat as inferior.
Etymology: Ultimately from the adjective niger, meaning "black". Several Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, etc) have the word "negro" meaning "black" (in colour) derived from the Latin "niger", while French has noir, its nègre being borrowed from Spanish. During the period in America's history when black workers were shipped to America to work as slaves, this word came to be adopted from the Hispanic South American languages to describe a person of dark skin. Essentially, a "negro" person simply means a "black" person. Through constant repetition of the Spanish word in the American accent, it seems likely that the word was corrupted from "negro" to "niggero" to simply "nigger".

WikipediaRate this definition:2.0 / 3 votes

Nigger
In the English language, the word nigger is an ethnic slur typically directed at black people. The word originated in the 18th century as an adaptation of the Spanish negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective niger, which means black. It was used derogatorily, and by the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, its usage by non-African Americans became unambiguously pejorative, a racist insult. Accordingly, it began to disappear from general popular culture. Its inclusion in classic works of literature has sparked modern controversy. Because the term is considered extremely offensive, it is often referred to by the euphemism "the N-word." But it remains in use, particularly as the variant nigga, by African Americans among themselves. In dialects of English (including standard British English) that have non-rhotic speech, "nigger" and "nigga" are pronounced the same.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.4 / 7 votes

Niggernoun
a negro; -- in vulgar derision or depreciation

WikidataRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language. The word originated as a neutral term referring to black people, as a variation of the Spanish/Portuguese noun negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective niger. Often used slightingly, by the mid 20th century, particularly in the United States, it suggested that its target is extremely unsophisticated. Its usage had become unambiguously pejorative, a common ethnic slur usually directed at blacks of Sub-Saharan African descent.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:4.3 / 3 votes

Nigger
nig′ėr, n. a black man, a negro: a native of the East Indies or one of the Australian aborigines: a black caterpillar: a Cornish holothurian.—v.t. to exhaust soil by cropping it year by year without manure.—n. Nigg′erdom, niggers collectively.—adjs. Nigg′erish, Nigg′ery.—ns. Nigg′er-kill′er, a scorpion; Nigg′erling, a little nigger.

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:2.5 / 15 votes

nigger
A colored person who has no money.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

Nigger
A corruption of Negro, which term is derived from the Latin niger, “black.”

Anagrams for nigger »

ginger
Ginger

How to pronounce nigger?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

How to say nigger in sign language?

Numerology

Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of nigger in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of nigger in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of nigger in a Sentence

David Pilgrim:
From the very beginning, putting on a blackface has been to act like either a foolish negro or a dangerous nigger.
Muhammad Ali:
Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a nigger.
Mark Scheifele:
be a nigger
Link Starbureiy:
My dad is my hero, and the only Black person I knew that wasn't a nigger.
Barack Obama:
Racism, we are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public.

more sentences »

Popularity rank by frequency of use

nigger#10000#32422#100000

References

^ Wiktionary
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nigger
^ Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger
^ Webster Dictionary
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nigger
^ Wikidata
https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=nigger
^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=nigger
^ The Roycroft Dictionary
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36566/36566-h/36566-h.htm#:~:text=nigger
^ Etymology and Origins
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=nigger

Translations for nigger

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

زنجيArabic
negrCzech
niggerDanish
NiggerGerman
αράπηςGreek
negruloEsperanto
negroSpanish
نیگرPersian
nekruFinnish
nègreFrench
niggerIrish
चाकलेट का रंगHindi
négerHungarian
սեւArmenian
orang NegroIndonesian
negroItalian
כּוּשִׁיHebrew
ニガーJapanese
ನಿಗರ್Kannada
검둥이Korean
niggerLatin
negerDutch
niggerNorwegian
czarnuchPolish
negroPortuguese
negruRomanian
негрRussian
niggerSwedish
niggerTamil
నిగ్గర్Telugu
นิโกรThai
zenciTurkish
негрUkrainian
نگرUrdu
niggerVietnamese
ניגערYiddish
黑鬼Chinese

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"nigger." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/nigger>.

Discuss these nigger definitions with the community:

8 Comments

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Kugar
Kkk at your side
LikeReply3 years ago
Ora Hicks Williams
All that bullshit an negativity about the word n*gger yall all DUMB
LikeReply 37 years ago
Mark Woodall
It also means a measure of wood
LikeReply7 years ago
Prince Taziyah Israel
you all are dummies cuz it means black it isnt offensive at all you
ignorant dumb people
LikeReply 28 years ago
- Jason Arnold
  I think the point is , if anybody studies history ; the N word was used to downgrade somebody and white people used this word towards black people in this country for centuries but I believe in order for our society to try to continue to evolve , we must let by gones be by gones and move on but racism will always exist until we as the human race wake up and relise we are all humans and intelligent beings , the real problem here is not racism butsomeone who puts somebody down and makes them feel bad and we all do it to eachother not just with race words but in other ways you can hurt somebody but black people have an inferiority complex because what happened to their people in the past and in today's society there is no reason to hate white people because at this point everybody is equal and have the right to work and live how they want in this country every race has bad apples in it just because some are bad shouldn't give you the right to condemn the whole race . rather condemn that one person than the whole entire race would make sense , I condemn people who are ignorant I don't care what race you are I might have used derogatory slurs towards people before when I got mad or something or if the person was being disrespectful towards me , if you don't like somebody then you are ignorant plain and simple if you are going to treat me bad I'm going to treat you bad it's not always the right way but i'm a good person I would help anybody out who needs it , I treat everybody the same I look at people as individuals and if that individual is going treat me with respect then i shall do the same onto him .
  
  the government is controlling the nation and brainwashing making people struggle to make a quality life for themselves , this country is the only country that is truly racist and have dangerous people living here , the real problem here is the education system we have in place , the poverty in america is the reason there is racism in this country , why are there rich people and why are there poor people we should have an equal amount of money in place for whoever is an american citizen have the right to have a good life if we destroy poverty and money issues in this country and develop a better health care system and education system I garantee you Racism will be abolished in this country. more »
  LikeReply 38 years ago
Vickie Hayes Alber
With all this discussion regarding the definition of a word, I see many have shown their true colors. I don't mean skin color! Alot of attitude has been brought into play, only inforcing the fact that we are all Humans. Many taking things out of context and feeding more into the conversation than was required.
If the word N*gger is so offensive, please help me understand why a Black person can call another Black a N*gger and it's alright but a white can't?
N*gger and Cracker have both been used to feed the minds of many in a disrespectful way. Regardless we still need to hold fast to our past history so as not to make the same mistakes again.
Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
Since someone brought up the subject.....I can't help but wonder and comment..............How in the world this turned to a political conversation regarding present and past leaders of this country is beyond me. We ALL have had presidents we liked or hated.......Personally I can't stand our current president, but it has nothing to do with his color. Attitude and the corrosion to our systemm my friends......it's festering and breaking Americans and called the dumbing down of America!
N*gger or Cracker regardless political correctness has gotten way out of control. No one can say or do anything without offending someone else to the point words and/or word definitions are being changed (or removed) to suit situations which suit the adgenda of others.
So here I go.......I don't care if your a N*gger, Cracker, Whap, Spick, Chink, Spud, WetBack, Camel Jockey, Doon Coon, Porch Monkey or anything else people want to tag on someone.....
There is enough negitive in the country brewing without creating more.
Hope when everything is finished your happy with your choice.
REMEMBER: With every Choice comes a Consequense! more »
LikeReply 68 years ago
Bryce Daigle
people forget that n*gger also means foolish and ignorant so if you're dumb as hell and rude anyone could call you that it doesnt always have to be racist it determines in what context you put it in
LikeReply 158 years ago
- Jessica Plymel
  That is the problem... people have the need to pay attention to skin color because it is wrong and offensive not to.
  In my opinion a white person calling a white person cracker should be just as offensive as a black, red, yellow or whatever other than white person calling a white person that. same thing goes for the word "nigger" if it doesn't offend you when it is a black person saying it but it does when a white person does... News flash you are racist!!!! If a white person is okay with white people saying cracker and have a problem when someone else does it... The white person is being racist!!!!
  I think people forget that racism is not just a conflict between people that happen to have different skin, it is when people act or treat people DIFFERENT because of the color of their skin. If I see an incedent between a black person and a white person and take up for the black person without getting the facts because they are black and I want to prove that I am not racist, then it is still racism.
  People don't pay attention to the actual racism that is going on, which there is a lot of but the media blaming everything on race issues is causing a lot more of it... How? because people are scared to present themselves as being racist.. The people of America have forgotten that this country was created to give ordinary people a chance at success and prosperity, to give people a voice! Our people use to stand and fight for what we believed in and that is no more. We as American's are suffering because of our own stupidity and that is the truth.
  Somewhere down the line American's have forgotten the key to success is hard work, durability, quality, and above everything self discipline and respect. These qualities can not be given they must be earned! America is too soft, and stupid to see that ignorant government policies and just dumb business laws are what is killing this country and breaking it apart so yes it is a political issue and no it shouldn't be. more »
  LikeReply 48 years ago
- Thee_Morningstar
  that is what i grew up learning the word meant. My family and friends use it for that meaning. Not for the racial way.
  LikeReply1 year ago
Tanya Bunch
first of all the word cracker referred to the white person who held the whip during slavery,the whip cracker.Learn something before you open your mouth.Your people are the ones who started the name calling and you have never stopped.Get off Obama's nuts and talk about those white scandalous Presidents,who were cheating.You are too old to be an ASS!!!!!! more »
LikeReply 119 years ago
- Jeni Hanson Aubrey
  Tanya. I never knew that about "white cracker" referring to the "whip cracker". It makes perfect sense. Then you went nutty on us and started spewing some very racist-sounding crap; which is the "real" you, I wonder? more »
  LikeReply 28 years ago
- Rebecca Pettigrew
  I called my sister a nigger when I was about 14. My grandfather made me look it up and write the definitation 500 times. Webster's Dictionary " A roge, lazy, a person that rather steal than work for what he gets. As it turned out I was right.lol Now what I want to know is why our young blacks think it is okay to call each other such a degrading word. Do they not have any respect for their race or their friends? more »
  LikeReply 27 years ago
- Michelina Caso
  Rebecca Pettigrew BOOM! ...for your sensible comment!!!
  LikeReply6 years ago
Lois Shells
I remember looking for this word, about 7 decades ago, and my school's dictionary did not imply any color. The definition, slovenly and or lazy could fit anyone. But I sure would like to know the meaning of the word 'Cracker'. And why are the blacks allowed to call us anything they please and not be frowned upon? And this man that called obama a n*gger is exactly right, he is extremely slovenly and lazy, and his wife too. more »
LikeReply 329 years ago
- Linton F. Ben
  No traffic jams and no cognitive abilities
  LikeReply7 years ago
- Marie Perdigone
  Ms Shells, I too remember looking up the word 'nigger' to try to understand why it was such a touchstone of anger once I became old enough to notice beyond my toys. I read a similar definition, 'a dirty lazy person'. No mention of a color. But the word has evolved as American english has a tendency to do. Dispite what we learned it to mean yesteryear, in it's present form, we needn't to poke at tender feelings by using any longer, in any context. more »
  LikeReply6 years ago