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Origin and evolution of the n-word

The term's origin from Latin, its evolution over centuries from a neutral descriptor to a pejorative term, particularly in the context of the slave trade and racial hierarchies.

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Jan 11, 2026
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How did the n-word originate and what were its earliest documented uses in the 17th and 18th centuries?

The n-word derives from Latin niger, meaning “black,” passed through Romance languages into English as a descriptor for dark-skinned people and appears in print as early as 1574; by the 17th and 18th ...