Where do you think the word n*gger comes from?

Question

I continue to hear people say that the word means ignorant. But there must be somekind of subconcious racist conspiracy brewing because I have never seen that definition anywhere. And I just checked again (go to dictonary.com or merriam-webster if you dont believe me).

My understanding is that the word comes from a transliteration of the word Niger (the region where any black come from in Africa) or the Latin word ***** which simply means black.

So where the does the ignorant connotation come from?

Answer 1

If you look up the word in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the third meaning for the word is ..."a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons". This is most likely were the connotation of ignorance came from. As for your speculation on it being a transliteration of Niger, the African country...you're half right and half wrong. The Latin word for the color black is "niger". Most English words were derived from Latin, so that's were it came from...not the country.

Answer 2

No, it has nothing to do with the country of Niger (pronounced Nigh-jeer). It started as slang for ***** but was used during the slavery era and by bigots afterward too.

Answer 3

You probably heard that from someone who is ignorant..... I never looked it up in the dictionary, but I figured it came from Niger or *****... .... Cracker Out!!

Answer 4

Whoever answered that it means ignorence must be ignorant themselves, because the two words are not connected at all.
N!gger doesn't mean ignorant, no. What I have heard is both definitions that you said.

Answer 5

It was used in a demeaning way by the slave owners, so it has a very negative connotation.

Answer 6

Don't really have a good answer for that but I googled and found a site that is somewhat interesting......

http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/caricature/