German · Words You'll Hear But Must Never Say
Kanake
kah-NAH-kuh · /kaˈnaː.kə/
An ethnic slur aimed mainly at people of Turkish, Arab or Southern-European descent
nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended
Literally
"(Ethnic slur, orig. Polynesian 'kanaka' = person)"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
A racist slur you will encounter — including, complicatedly, reclaimed defiantly by some of the very communities it targets (see the 90s "Kanak Sprak" movement and rap). That reclamation does not license outsiders: from a non-member's mouth it is straightforwardly racist and can be prosecuted. Comprehension only.
Heard in the wild
(Comprehension only — never to be spoken.)
(Recognise it; never use it.)
Where it lands
Germany — heard; slur from outsiders
Quick answers
- What does "Kanake" mean?
- In German, "Kanake" means "An ethnic slur aimed mainly at people of Turkish, Arab or Southern-European descent". Literally it's "(Ethnic slur, orig. Polynesian 'kanaka' = person)". A racist slur you will encounter — including, complicatedly, reclaimed defiantly by some of the very communities it targets (see the 90s "Kanak Sprak" movement and rap). That reclamation does not license outsiders: from a non-member's mouth it is straightforwardly racist and can be prosecuted. Comprehension only.
- Is "Kanake" offensive?
- Yes — very. It rates 5/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Do not deploy). nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
- How do you pronounce "Kanake"?
- Say it "kah-NAH-kuh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: kaˈnaː.kə.
Related in German
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