nigger (English)

Where does "nigger" come from?

The English noun 'nigger' derives from the Latin adjective 'niger' which means 'black'[1]. The term first appeared in English writings around 1577[1]. While the word is clearly rooted in the Latin term for black, the specific pronunciation with the sound 'ɪ' may have been influenced by the Latin etymon itself rather than following standard patterns for English development[1].

Open questions

• The ultimate origin of the Latin form is uncertain, though it may derive from the Proto-Indo-European root for bare or naked. [2]
• The possible connection between 'niger' and the Umbrian word 'niru' is disputed or lacks consensus. [2]

Full etymology tree

• nigger (English), 'A black person; a person of black African descent.'
  • derived niger (Latin), 'wan, shining black (as opposed to āter, dull black)'
    • inherited *negʷ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'bare, naked'

Ancestors

• niger (Latin)

Cognates and doublets

• neger (Danish)
• neger (Dutch)
• Neger (German)
• neger (Swedish)

Descendants and derived words

• nigger (Danish)
• nikker (Dutch)
• nikker (Dutch)
• antinigger (English)
• chigger (English)
• chigger (English)
• criminigger (English)
• curry nigger (English)
• Dead Nigger Creek (English)
• deniggerization (English)
• deniggerize (English)
• doublenigger (English)

Sources

1. nigger (English) - Wiktionary
2. niger (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris