Original nicknames

Some nicknames even became the official names of peoples in the languages ​​in which they originated. Everything depends on the historical situation that contributed to their emergence, and the further relationships of peoples.

There are about 1500 people living on our planet different nations, which have their own individual names that distinguish them from each other. But in addition to official names, many peoples also have nicknames given to them at one time by friends-neighbors or, conversely, by opponents. They are, of course, not mentioned in international treaties and other important documents.

Each of these nicknames, sometimes mockingly playful, sometimes caustically offensive, has its own history and its own destiny. Some of them are known only to historians, while others, on the contrary, exist to this day.

Where did barbarians come from?

The appearance of the first national nicknames dates back to ancient times. Even the ancient Greeks, and later the Romans, used the word “barbarians” in relation to the peoples around them. It was the name given to peoples who belonged to various ethnic groups and spoke different languages: Slavs, Germans, Celts and many others. For Greece and Rome, with their developed culture, these peoples looked very backward. And their language was incomprehensible.

It seemed to the Greeks and Romans that, when communicating with each other, they uttered some strange sounds - “var-var”. This is where the nickname came from, which lasted for many centuries. Later this word lost its original meaning and became a common noun. Now it means a rude, ignorant person who destroys what was created by the labor of others, regardless of his nationality.

Who are the fryags?

National nicknames also appeared in Rus'. In the second half of the 15th century, on the initiative of Grand Duke Ivan III, many foreigners came to the Russian state, mainly from southern Europe, mainly from Italy. These were architects, engineers, gunsmiths and other craftsmen. Here the Italians received the nickname “Fryags”, “Fryazis” or “Fryazins”.

This word was borrowed with some distortion from the Serbian language, where it meant “Latins,” that is, Catholics. Accordingly, any item of Italian import was designated by the word “Fryazhsky”. In official documents of that time, the nickname “Fryazin” was added to the names of Italian masters, with which many of them went down in history.

How did the Germans become Germans?

When we pronounce the words “German”, “German”, we do not even think about their origin. And it has its own interesting story, also dating back to the Middle Ages. In addition to the Italians, who received “their” nickname, residents of other European countries. These were diplomats, traders and masters of various professions. Naturally, immediately upon arrival, none of them knew Russian and could not communicate with the local population without an interpreter.

Having met a foreigner on the street and asked him some question, the Russian person did not receive any answer from him. So the opinion arose that all foreigners are mute and cannot speak. That's why they called them Germans. Moreover, this concept included not only residents of Germany, but also the Dutch, the British and many others. Gradually, this word began to refer specifically to the Germans, and it became established in the Russian language as a generally accepted norm.

Boches, Krauts and Hans.

Nicknames also appeared at a later time. The same Germans, to whom other nations often gave contemptuous nicknames, especially “got it” especially. In the 19th century, Prussia, the largest German state, often waged wars with its neighbors. One of the main targets of its aggression was France. The angry-tongued French came up with a nickname for their opponents. They disparagingly called them Boches.

This word was also used in the 20th century, especially during the two world wars started by Germany. During the First World War, Russia also had to face the Germans in a military confrontation. And it didn’t take long for another nickname for them to appear in the Russian language - Krauts. This word comes from one of the common names in Germany, which can be either independent or a diminutive of the name Friedrich.

This nickname for the Germans became especially popular in 1941, when Germany again attacked, now on Soviet Union. There was another nickname at that time - Hans, also derived from the common German name. However, now these nicknames, not very pleasant for the German people, are already a thing of the past, and our countries have maintained friendly relations for many years.

Forelock versus beard.

The basis for the appearance of national nicknames can be anything. Some features may also be a reason appearance people. The most famous is the peculiar “exchange” of nicknames between two fraternal Slavic peoples- Russian and Ukrainian.

At one time, the Zaporozhye Cossacks shaved their heads bald, leaving a forelock in front, which the Russians called “crest.” The wearers of this hairstyle also began to be called crests, and from them the nickname passed on to all Ukrainians in general. Of course, they did not remain in debt and also came up with a nickname for Russians associated with their appearance.

Unlike Ukrainians, Russians wore beards, which gave the first reason to call them Katsaps. In the Ukrainian language, the word “tsap” means a goat, which, as is known, has a “beard”. The Ukrainian phrase “yak tsap” literally meant “like a goat.” Later it was transformed into the well-known word “katsap”. Both of these nicknames have long become humorous, and people with a sense of humor are not offended by them.

There is another nickname for Russians in Ukraine, which has a more negative connotation - Muscovites. Naturally, it comes from the name of the capital of Russia. Initially, this was the nickname given to officials who, after the unification of Ukraine with the Russian state, came there to establish new orders. Then they began to call all Russians by this nickname. It is in this meaning, and extremely disparaging, that it still exists in the west of Ukraine.

Potatoes, pasta and frogs.

Finally, some nicknames come from the characteristics of a particular national cuisine. It is known that in Italy one of the favorite national dishes is pasta. “Good” neighbors immediately responded to this fact, calling the Italians pasta makers. However, this does not prevent residents of all countries of the world from visiting numerous Italian restaurants and eating spaghetti with pleasure.

The French were not left without a nickname, as some species of frogs are used in their national cuisine. They began to be called paddling pools. True, the French themselves are not very pleased with this nickname. Moreover, French cuisine also has plenty of other dishes made from a wide variety of products.

In terms of nicknames, Belarusians are the luckiest of all. Their cuisine includes many varied and tasty potato dishes, which the Belarusian land is rich in. In Belarusian, potatoes are called “bulba”. So their neighbors - Russians and Ukrainians - called the Belarusians Bulbash. However, the Belarusian people are not at all offended by such a nickname. The cheerful, good-natured and hospitable bulbash has long become something of an unofficial symbol of Belarus.

In Russian.

Abrek - Chechen, Dagestan, in a broad sense, a representative of any nation North Caucasus male. Among the Caucasians themselves there is an outcast mountaineer.

Azer, aizer - Azerbaijani.

Azeri is also one of the self-names of Azerbaijanis, probably derived from the name of the extinct Indo-European language of the northwestern subgroup of Iranian languages, which existed on the territory of Southern Iranian Azerbaijan presumably until the 17th century.

Amerikos, Amer, Pindos (this word originally meant the Greeks) - American.

Ara is Armenian (not offensive).

Afro-ass, afrozy, afro-black-ass - black. It arose as a sharply negative reaction to the politically correct “African American.”

An Afro-Russian is a black man living in Russia.

Baybak is a nickname for Karelians or residents of Karelia in general. It has a contemptuous connotation, hinting at the negative qualities inherent in the steppe marmot - laziness, stupidity.

Basurman (Busurman, Busarman, Basurmanin, Busarmanin) - in the old days in Rus': Tatar, a person of a different religion, mainly from the East. Initially the nickname has religious meaning: “Basurman” is obviously a distorted word for “Muslim” - that is, a non-religious person.

Biraljukas (Braljukas) are Lithuanians. Derivation from “brolis” - “brother”, “brolyukas” - “little brother”.

Bulbash (from white bulba - “potato”) - Belarusian.

Hans is German.

Guran - usually used in relation to the descendants of mixed marriages of Russians and Buryats in Transbaikalia, also to the Transbaikal Cossacks. Derived from the name of a male roe deer, which is one of the main game animals in Transbaikalia. The Gurans in Transbaikalia have a special “brotherly” (semi-Mongoloid) appearance, thick black hair, wide cheekbones and dark skin, and also speak a special Transbaikalian dialect of the Russian language.

Jew is a Jew.

Beast, small animal (came from thieves' jargon) - a contemptuous nickname for visitors mainly from Transcaucasia or from Central Asia, less often - from the North Caucasus.

Labuses (Hans) are Latvians. Derived from the Lithuanian greeting "labas", "laba diena" - "good afternoon"

Lyakh (obsolete) - Pole.

The paddling pool is French.

Lapps are Sami.

Myrk, Moor - a humiliating nickname for uncultured, uncouth, rude people in Kyrgyzstan. Synonym: "redneck". The nickname is used by the population living in the capital of Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek in relation to rural residents.

Macaroni is Italian.

Mambet - formerly widespread male name, a derivative of the word "Makhambet" of the Kazakh pronunciation of the word "Muhammad". Used by both the non-Kazakh population and urban Kazakhs in relation to rural Kazakhs or recent immigrants from the village. A priori, a Kazakh who speaks Russian poorly is considered a mambet in Kazakhstan.

Muscovites - Russians (obsolete).

Non-Russian - used disparagingly towards anyone who is not Russian.

Ниггер - заимствованное из США оскорбительное наименование чернокожего.

Pindos (sometimes "Pendos") - from about the 19th century Russian Empire, as now in the south of Russia and Ukraine, as well as in Kazakhstan, are Greeks. However, it is now increasingly used in relation to Americans.

Psheki (pshek) - Poles. It arose due to the “hissing” nature of Polish speech.

Rusaki, rusapet, rusopyat - an outdated self-name of Russians.

Samoyeds (obsolete) - Nenets.

Seldyuk is a Siberian nickname, approximately the same as chaldon.

Fritz is the name of the Germans. Origin - shortened form of the name "Frederick"

Tungus (obsolete) - Evenks.

Narrow-eyed is a disrespectful nickname for Mongoloids (Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc.).

Khach, Khachik - Armenian (in recent years wrongly any native of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasian countries).

Chaplashka is a Tatar (approx. in Tatarstan).

Chakh(s) (obsolete) - Czech.

Black-assed (from hair color or dark skin) - absolute brunettes, immigrants from Transcaucasia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It is a kind of backronym for American Wog, which is also used to describe people from the Middle East. Southern Europe and Balkans: Italians, Moroccans, Latin Americans, Macedonians, Greeks or Spaniards. The nickname, which originally referred to blacks, has now mainly passed on to black-haired or dark-skinned foreigners.

The first meaning (from hair color or dark skin) is a derogatory designation by the predominantly Russian population of representatives of Transcaucasia, Central Asia and the Middle East. In Russia, this term has a different meaning in contrast to the USA, that is, people are not literally “black”, but rather “dark-haired”, brunettes, people who are Caucasian in type, but still with skin a little darker than that of Northern Europeans. This nickname refers to Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Tajiks, Moldovans, etc.

The second meaning (based on skin color) is the same as African Americans, blacks, blacks belonging to the Negroid race.

crests are Ukrainians (from the Cossack custom of wearing a forelock).

Chaldony, chaldony - dialect designation for Siberians. It was used among Russian Siberians in relation to other Russian Siberians with an emphasis on the stupidity and “Valenkov” of a person. Currently, the use of the word is rare even in Siberia, found mainly among the older generation.

Blacks (by skin color) - representatives of the Negroid race, blacks, the designation “black” is also common.

Czech (derivative, army slang) is a Chechen, predominantly a Chechen militant.

Chocks, churbans, chureks, chebureks, babahans, rhinoceroses, chuchmeks, saxauls are a contemptuous designation for representatives of the peoples of Central Asia. This word has penetrated into colloquial speech from criminal jargon, obviously from Turkic.

Chukhonets, Chukhon, Chukhna is a disrespectful nickname, used mainly by the Russian population in relation initially to the Ingrian Finns, later to the Finns of Finland and other representatives of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Chukhna, Chushka - Finland.

Hellenes are Greeks.

Yankees are Americans.

In other languages.

Ami (Ami) is a nickname for Americans by Germans (simplification/abbreviation).

Aleman - lit. “German” (Spanish) - in Cuba all are white Europeans.

Ak-kulak, ash-kulokh (literally white-eared) - an offensive nickname for the Slavs in Central Asia, an analogue of the Russian “black-assed”.

The Boches are Germans. Borrowed from French, the lexicon of the First World War, also found its way into Russian.

Bosha is a nickname for gypsies among Armenians.

Burla (barge hauler) is an offensive nickname for Russians in Central Asia.

Vessi - residents of Germany (before the unification of Germany and the GDR). Comes from the German Westdeutschland - West Germany.

Gaijin (from gaikokujin - foreigner) is a disrespectful nickname for non-Japanese people in Japan.

Goy - (word from the Torah) means non-Jew. Used in both derogatory and neutral meanings.

Gringos are foreigners, most often of Caucasian appearance, often Americans (in Latin America and Mexico).

John Bull is English.

Kafir - all non-Muslims (identical to Jewish goy, Russian infidel, wicked, unchrist).

Latinos is a nickname for Latin Americans in the United States; the word has also passed into Russian.

Nazari (Arabic lit. “Nazarenes”) are Christians among the southern Arabs.

Ora is the way Abkhazians call each other.

Rusaki is the collective self-name of the Russian-speaking population in Germany.

Rushpans - Ukrainian. "Russians".

Sarybas, sarybash (literally “yellow-headed”) is an offensive nickname for Europeans in Central Asia, used in the sense of “coward”, “bungler”, “fool”.

Shoshka (chuchka) is a derogatory nickname for the Slavs (mostly Russians) in Central Asia, literally “pigs”, sometimes used in the sense of “pig-like”, “pig-eaters”, “pig people”.

Ivans are Russians (among the Germans and not only).

Kalbit - in the regions of Russia bordering Kazakhstan, it is contemptuous - Kazakh.

Kizdym is Kazakh.

Katsapy (Ukrainian word) - Russian. Most often refers to residents of Moscow due to the unusual dialect widespread there. Most Russians, including Muscovites, do not suspect the existence of any nickname given by Ukrainians, in principle, and especially this specific one.

Cockney is a resident of the working-class neighborhoods of London. IN English, from which it is borrowed, is not offensive.

Xenos is a word used by the indigenous population of Greece in relation to foreigners, foreign-speaking people, emigrants, migrants and all those who are alien Greek culture. The word is used in both derogatory and neutral meanings. Xenophobia is a single root word meaning hostility towards strangers. A word with a similar meaning in use in the Russian language is - nerus.

Laowai is a colloquial Chinese term for any foreigner of European descent.

Laomaozi (Maozi) is a colloquial Chinese designation for Russians.

Muscovites are Russians, most often immigrants from Moscow.

Ossies are residents of the GDR (before the unification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR) and the eastern part of present-day Germany. Comes from the German Ostdeutschland - East Germany.

Pakis is a derogatory nickname for people from Pakistan in the UK.

Persil is a contemptuous nickname for an Azerbaijani or Turk in Turkmenistan.

Piefke is a nickname used by residents of Austria and especially Vienna to call residents of parts of Germany; nowadays it is used mainly by tourists from Germany. In Germany itself, this nickname is used as a humorous designation for a braggart or imagineer.

Raski is a contemptuous name for Russians (in the broad sense of all citizens from former USSR) from the Americans.

Ryussia are Russians among the Finns.

Sarty is a word used by Karakalpaks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Turkmens to people of Uzbek nationality; most often this word is perceived as derogatory and abusive.

Tibla is an offensive nickname for Russian speakers in Estonia.

Farang is a word from the Thai language that originally referred to the French. Not offensive. In Thailand and Cambodia, farang (barang) refers to any foreigner of European descent.

Habibi is how Americans disparagingly call Arabs.

Shuravi - Originally a designation for USSR soldiers in Afghanistan. On at the moment neutral designation for all Russians in Arab countries.

Yahudiy is a colloquial Uzbek designation for a person of the Jewish religion, used in both derogatory and neutral meanings.

POM (Pommy) is a humorous nickname for the British among residents of Australia, New Zealand and sometimes South Africa.

Gave an offensive nickname

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