wop
Anti-Italian epithet
Wop is an offensive slur for an Italian or person of Italian descent.
The term emerged in early 20th-century America when Italian immigration was high and anti-immigrant sentiment strong.
It remains derogatory: The neighborhood kids called him a wop.
Like most ethnic slurs, it's sometimes reclaimed ironically by Italian Americans themselves.
Anti-Italian ethnic slur
- guineaFormer British currency unit
- greaseballSlur for slimy person
- goombahItalian-American associate, often shady
- paisanoInformal term for compatriot
ethnic slur · derogatory · pejorative · disparaging · insult · epithet · slander · defamation
Historic immigrant processing center
- Italian-AmericansAmericans of Italian descent
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- 1920sPost-WWI American decade
- Little ItalyUrban ethnic enclave
tenement · steerage · assimilation · Americanization · melting pot · naturalization · quota system · ancestry
dago
Anti-Italian ethnic slur
- guineaFormer British currency unit
- greaseballSlur for slimy person
- goombahItalian-American associate, often shady
paisano · ethnic slur · derogatory · pejorative · disparaging · insult · epithet · slander · defamation · vilification
Ellis Island
Historic immigrant processing center
- Italian-AmericansAmericans of Italian descent
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- 1920sPost-WWI American decade
Little Italy · tenement · steerage · assimilation · Americanization · melting pot · naturalization · quota system · ancestry · heritage
mafioso
Organized crime syndicate member
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
wise guy · made man · omertà · vendetta · spaghetti · pizza · garlic · mustache · accent · gesture
Ethnicity bridging two nations
Italian · Italian heritage · paisano · paesano · compare
wopWASP
Anglo establishment shorthand
Anglo · native-born · American · insider · blue blood
- doo wopHarmonic vocal pop genre
- doo-wop groupHarmonizing retro vocal act