nigger
16 synonyms for nigger, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An extremely offensive racial slur used to refer to a Black person. Considered one of the most inflammatory words in English and avoided in almost all contexts outside quotation, historical discussion, or reclaimed use within some Black communities.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From French nègre and Spanish negro, both ultimately from Latin niger, "black." It was a neutral descriptive term in earlier centuries but became a term of contempt through its long association with slavery and racism, and by the 20th century had become a slur.
Full origin of nigger →