Is the word 'Cockney' offensive?

Answer 1

'Cockney' is a nickname for a Londoner born within the sound of Bow Bells in East London.

It is not considered offensive. Many cockneys are proud of the fact and make no secret of it.

Answer 2

It depends on the context. If you are a native Londoner, you should be able to accept that you are a Cockney, but the term is generally used to describe someone who speaks with a certain accent and uses a certain range of vocabulary, most famously Cockney rhyming slang. http://www.aldertons.com/

I found the term offensive when I was part of a group travelling from Kuala Lumpur airport to a hotel in central KL. We had all arrived on the flight from London Heathrow and the guide ordered us not to attempt to speak to the hotel staff because they "wouldn't understand our Cockney accents". Obviously he didn't mean to be offensive and it was in fact funny because nobody, as far as one could hear, spoke Cockney, but I wonder whether anyone has ever punched his nose for using the term!

Nowadays most of the people born within the sound of Bow Bells tend to be the children of immigrants, who might have a problem with English, let alone rhyming slang, so the term Cockney has probably lost its impact.

Answer 3

No. there is too much hypersensitivity towards words and names these days. I see nothing wrong with Mormon, Eskimo and Scotch tape either even though there are some people who would rather have you say Church of the Latter Day Saints, Inuit and transparent tape instead.

I admit that I don't like the word "Scouse" as a term for the Liverpool variety of British English; I prefer the older 'Liverpudlian' instead which even John Lennon used. Nevertheless, it's still not something I think most people are going to lose any sleep over.

Answer 4

You may have to use this link below to interpret this for yourself. Good luck!

Answer 5

Only if it spews cock juice.