why do some Americans find being called a yank or Yankee, offencive. it's just come up in quite a lot?

Answer 1

Well during the Civil War days, the term Yank or Yankee was what the southerners called those from the north. It was meant as an insult mostly, but thats what they were northerners were yankees and southerners were confederates. its just history.

Answer 2

I'm from the South and so that's why I don't like being called a Yankee.

Yankee (in the U.S.) is a slang term for a Northerner, someone who lives above the Mason-Dixon line!

Yankee is a term older than the Civil War, but during the war Southerners used this term to draw a divide between the vast differences culturally and politically between the North and South.

Answer 3

I'd like to meet the fellow American and ask them. We call ourselves yankees all the time.

Maybe we are just sensative right now becauase of how much the world hates us so much, we assume you are using Yankee as a swear word.

the term Yank may have a second meaning that some men might find offensive, if you get my drive.

Answer 4

I personally don't have a problem being called a Yankee but many do. I think it is because this world is becoming too politically correct. The black people don't want to be called the N word, Jewis people don't want to be called "Jews", gay people don't like being called *** or Dyke. I guess it depends on if you feel your background is something to not be so proud of. I am from NY and I am frequently called "Damn New Yorker." It doesn't bother me at all.. Besides I think the North and South are still fighting the war...

Answer 5

I would imagine those who find it offensive are from the southern states. During the Civil War, people from the northern states were referred to by the southerners as Yankees, and the practice has continued. "Yankees" has a negative connotation to southerners.

Answer 6

Because, some Americans are ridiculous.

They have a baseball team called the Yankees, don't they?


If Yankee is a racial slur, why don't we see large teams called "porchmonkies" or something...

Answer 7

Well that would depend on the American. For me I find it offensive because it is a Native American word meaning White person, which I am not. Others might find it offensive due to the generalization of the word. It is no different that calling someone a racial slur in my opinion.

Answer 8

Its still an insult to a Southerner, to called a Yankee, even
today.Call me worse but don't Insult me by saying I was born up North.

Answer 9

For the same reason that some British citizens find being called Brits offensive. It's slang that just doesn't appeal to some people.

Answer 10

If they're not from the North-East they might take it as offensive, perhaps even an insult.