nigger
UK[ˈnɪɡə(r)]US[ˈnɪɡər]
n
A deeply offensive and racist term used to refer to a Black person.
Etymology
The word originates from the Latin adjective "niger," meaning black or dark. It entered English via Spanish and Portuguese "negro," a neutral descriptor for a person of Black African descent. In the English of the American colonies, the pronunciation shifted to "nigger," and through its use within the brutal system of racial slavery and oppression, it became imbued with extreme contempt and dehumanization. Its evolution from a descriptive color term to one of the most potent racial slurs in the English language is a direct reflection of the history of anti-Black racism.
Analysis
This word is a simplex term. It is a phonetic alteration and pejorative development of the neutral Spanish/Portuguese word "negro," meaning "black," which itself derives from Latin "niger" (black, dark).
Examples
The use of the word nigger in historical texts reflects the pervasive racism of the era.
He was rightly condemned for hurling the epithet nigger at his opponent.
Scholars examine the reclamation of the word within some contexts, though its offensive power remains undiminished in general usage.