And that the term "yankee" is never used without it's preceding curse word in the south?
2007-09-13 01:12:53 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
LOL! These answers are pretty hilarious! My, what a bias against southerners I'm discovering! I'm not even from the South. I just moved here and have heard a lot of people talking about the d---yankees moving in, and I noticed a lot of "Brits" on this website referring to all Americans as Yanks. So I asked out of curiosity - but I must say, some of you need to visit the south, you're so prejudiced into thinking they all chew tobacco and sit on their porches it's ridiculous! It's actually a very friendly and mannerly place, except sometimes when the word "Yankee" comes up.
2007-09-13 05:06:15 · update #1
Goodness me, your question does seem to have generated quite a bit of heat, doesn't it?
Well, yes, I did know that, because I know a little bit about American history - more than most of my compatriots probably. And I have been to the Southern States ... and what wonderful, hospitable people they are. The only thing I didn't like was the roaches.
But, oh dear! I fear you are just as guilty as we are of overextending the meaning-laden labels ... you see, "we Brits" as you call us aren't too fond of that term either. I am English, and the only time I will ever (very reluctantly) accept the label "British" is in that little space on visa applications and suchlike where it says "nationality". And the same goes for Welsh people and Scottish people.
2007-09-13 12:20:22 · answer #1 · answered by Cosimo )O( 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think most Britons know what "Yankees" are. However, I would argue that whilst "Yankee" is a Southern USA slang word for someone from the North, "Yank" is a completely different British slang word meaning "American". This argument does not, however, make either word any the less offensive.
By the way, do Yanks know that Britons hate to be called "Brits" - except by other Britons?
2007-09-13 01:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by GrahamH 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Brits called Americans Yanks long before the south referred to northerners as Yankees. Your analogies are not really accurate. (I am not a Brit)
2016-05-18 04:40:20 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in my knowledge, in southern England in modern times.
In my youth in the 1950s the terms Yank and American were one and the same to me. Only about 10 years ago did I learn that "Yankee" refers to one side in the American Civil War. Sorry, I can never remember which side, just as I always get confused between Confederate and Unionist, because in dictionary terms both words have very similar meanings.
2015-10-21 00:33:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term "Yank", short for Yankee is a generic term for folks from the USA, when referred to by people of many other nations, the UK in particular. (look below my avatar) It is no more offensive that referring to one of our Canadian friends as a "Canuck". These terms while informal, are not offensive.
Unfortunately there still exists a population of mouth breathing, tobacco chewing, prejudicial, uneducated, trailer dwelling miscreants who don't get this.
2007-09-13 02:53:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
What preceding curse word?
And yes, we had a discussion about derogatory words in an English language lesson when I was at college and this came up. I doubt Americans from the north appreciate it that much either, to be honest.
2007-09-13 01:18:16 · answer #6 · answered by prepare4trouble 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
em, you seem to have forgotten that nonsense was over after the civil war was over. Also, some of us southerners are just transplanted northerners who had family smart enough to know slavery was wrong from the beginning. Evidently, you also failed the part of history that included the song, "Yankee Doodle Dandy." that has become synonymous with the entire nation, not just the north. It's time for some personal growth on your part.
2007-09-13 01:25:04 · answer #7 · answered by Jeanne B 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Americans are Yankees. You will never change the minds of the rest of the world.
The South lost the war, and the Confederacy will never be a nation. Deal with it.
2007-09-13 01:18:35 · answer #8 · answered by Bill W 【ツ】 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
By "Southern Americans" do you mean the people in Latin American countries? Why would anyone call them Yanks? They're not from the USA after all.
2007-09-13 01:21:12 · answer #9 · answered by dweebken 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yup, it's used purely as a derogatory term for all Americans here.
To be fair, it is equally annoying when you hear Americans calling calling British people 'English' - There are three other countries that make up the UK !
So I think we are all quits.
2007-09-13 01:20:45 · answer #10 · answered by Gem Gem 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋