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{{trope}}
{{quote|'''[[Loveable Rogue|Haley:]]''' How can you be so smart sometimes and still be such an... an AIRHEAD!
'''[[Fish Out of Water|Celia:]]''' HEY! There's no need for racial slurs!
|'''''[[The Order of the Stick]]'''''}}
In fiction, racism is sometimes dealt with through metaphor, such as humans treating [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|sentient robots as second-class citizens]], [[Elves vs. Dwarves]], [[Fur Against Fang]].
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Compare [[Pardon My Klingon]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* In ''[[Gundam]]'' Earth Federation soldiers call the Zeon "Zeeks" and Zeon soldiers call the Federation "Feddies".
** While Spacenoid is in fact the in-universe term for people who live in space colonies or on the moon, the [[Zeta Gundam|Titans]] use it as a slur. This doesn't carry over to the word Earthnoid for space-dwellers.
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* In ''[[Dead Eyes Open]]'', the derogatory name for the [[Not Using the Z Word|Returners]] is "Deadies."
* Volgans in ''[[ABC Warriors]]'' refer to humans as 'floppies'.
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise]]'' Firebenders are called "ash makers" by residents of the Earth Kingdom who want them out.
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* In [[Summer Days and Evening Flames]], Gilda, a [[Mix-and-Match Critters|griffin]], gets called a "half-breed". [[Hypocritical Humor|By a pegasus]].
* In ''Legend of the Crimson Avatar'' a Naruto AU/Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover, firebenders with extremely weak, low temperature fire are called Rose Flames due to the blood red color. Rose Flames struggle to produce even orange fire in combat and no Rose Flame has ever attained certification as a Master, relegating anyone unfortunate enough to be one to a life of ridicule. The AU Naruto happens to be a Rose Flame, and the first time he tries to look cool lighting his fist on fire, everybody laughs at him.
* Doug Sangnoir of ''[[Drunkard's Walk]]'', a metahuman who tends to regard normal humans with a certain amount of disdain, refers to them as "crunchies".
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** In ''[[Casper Scare School|Casper's Scare School]]'', "fleshies" refer to [[Muggles]].
* ''[[Blade]]'' referred to vampires in one of his catch-phrases as "suckheads".
* Switch of ''[[The Matrix]]'' at one point calls Neo, at the time still unplugged, a [https://web.archive.org/web/20160307110512/http://www.douglaslumber.com/images/brochure_logos/duracell/duracell-batteries_lg.jpg "coppertop"].
* The knights in ''[[King Arthur (film)|King Arthur]]'' call the Picts "Woads" (with [[Word of God]] that this name is meant to be a slur).
* ''[[Robots]]'' older robots models are called "outmodes".
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* In ''[[Discworld]]'', dwarfs are occasionally called "lawn ornaments" and gritsuckers.
** Trolls take offense at being called "rocks".
** Also, the undead and related (vampires, werewolves, bogeymen) sometimes refer to humans as "Normos" (short for 'normal'), as seen with Shlimazel the bogeyman in ''[[
** Conservative dwarfs call those dwarfs who dare to openly show signs of femininity "Ha'ak". No translation is given, but it's very clearly not a nice word (the target's troll friend threatened to kill the offender if he heard it used again). It turns out later it's '''not''' just an insult for the openly feminine, or conservative vs. liberal: a rather progressive dwarf says it to an arch-conservative adversary in ''[[
*** Other slurs referring to those showing undwarfly conduct include "Dr'zka" and "D'hrarak". The former means you have a lax approach to dwarfish behaviour and such; the latter means an exile who has been cast out of dwarf society by the Low King.
**** Th dwarf word ''drudak'ak'', while it isn't precisely a slur (but is somewhat unkind, judging by the way Carrot hesitates to use it), means something like "They who do not get out in the fresh air enough" and refers to dwarfs who are excessively conservative; generally, the dwarfs that this applies to are rather inclined to believe that the surface is a bad dream of some sort that will go away if they ignore it hard enough.
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** Common amongst lit and such that involves [[Fur Against Fang|vampires and werewolves]]. Or anything that eats blood or is Lupine, really.
*** [[The Hunter|Rashel]] refers to vampires as "leeches" and werewolves as "puppies" in ''[[Night World|The Chosen]]''.
* The now ubiquitous term ''[[Toon]]'' started out as a slur term for cartoon characters in the novel ''[[Who Censored Roger Rabbit?
** "Toon" was supposed to be a slur?
*** Given the time period ([[Fridge Logic|now that I think about it]]), it's probably more akin to saying "Colored" in the movie than the N-Word.
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* In [[Kim Newman]]'s ''[[Anno Dracula]]'' series, as vampires spread across America, a California diner has a sign saying "No Vipers".
** In the first novel, with a vampire aristocracy ruling Britain, "warm" gets used as a derogorary term for the living. Those who object to the vampire rule call them "leeches".
* Mary Gentle's ''Grunts'' has elves referred to "squeakies." This may refer to the sounds they make when the hulking orcs who're the main characters bear-hug — or sometimes rape — elves to death.
* A science fiction short story had "google" as a slur for the genetically-enhanced space people (they have large eyes). Of course, this was before "google" meant "web search".
* One of [[Andre Norton]]'s earliest books (''Star Rangers/The Last Planet'') had "Bemmy" — apparently derived from the movie slang B.E.M., "bug-eyed monster," as a generic insult for nonhumans. She got [[Anvilicious]] with it to the point of including "Bemmy-lover" as an insult for any human who hung out with them.
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* In [[Alastair Reynolds]]' ''Revelation Space'' series, Yellowstonian Demarchists call Conjoiners "spiders" and rogue Demarchists, Skyjacks and Ultras "zombies". The "spider" nickname was also used by the Coalition for Neural Purity seen in the chronologically earliest installments of the series. Conjoiners refer to baseline humans as "the retarded".
* The [[Biopunk]] book ''Forests Of The Night'' by S. Andrew Swann features Morey, short for the uplifted animal Moreaus, and Franks, short for the genetically enhanced human Frankensteins. As the protagonist tends to be a [[Noble Bigot with a Badge|Noble Bigot With A PI Badge]] in a [[Crapsack World]], it's never clear if there's a polite term, but the few 'good' people we run into avoid them completely.
* The [[RCN Series]] series adopted a racist term from English — "wog" — with the alteration that it no longer has anything to do with skin color. In the eyes of Cinnabar's spacers, you can be whatever race or ethnicity (including as blond, blue-eyed, and whiter than white as a Nazi's wet dream), but you're still a wog if ''you're not from Cinnabar''. In one book, Alliance spacers refer to members of a barbaric (but still space-traveling and high-tech) culture as "monkeys." And Leary's servant Hogg is capable of being even ''more'' insular:
{{quote|Daniel suspected that in the right context, Hogg might use "wog" to describe anybody who hadn't been born and raised on the Bantry estate.}}
* In [[Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''The Word For World Is Forest'', the human slur for the Athsheans is "creechies".
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** "Fanger" is also used for vampires, while "fangbanger" is used for either people in some sort of relationship with a vampire or just generally anyone sympathetic to them (by the more fanatical detractors).
* "Greenskins" for female Orions in ''[[Star Trek]]''.
** An inorganic lifeform calls humans "ugly bags of mostly water" in the ''[[Star Trek: The
** The Andorian commander Shran refered to humans as "[[Unfortunate Implications|pinkskins]]" on ''[[Star Trek:
*** Weirdly, as there were Vulcans of the same skin color in the room and it clearly didn't apply to them.
*** However, Shran's use of "pinkskin" was less as an insult and more as a term of endearment, especially with regards to Archer.
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** Another Trek one—in the [[Expanded Universe]], Klingons are sometimes referred to as "turtleheads" or "ridgeheads".
** ''[[Deep Space Nine]]'': "Spoonheads" or "Cardies" for Cardassians.
* ''[[Space: Above and Beyond]]'' has "Chiggers" or "Chigs" for the [[Bug War|insectoid enemy species]] and "Nipplenecks" or "Tanks" for the In Vitros. ([[Artificial
* "Dagger" for Dagwood's [[Super Soldier|people]] in ''[[SeaQuest DSV]]''.
* ''[[Stargate]]'': "Snakeheads" or simply "snakes" for the Goa'uld.
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** Bonehead still has its original meaning, which led to a few awkward situations.
* ''[[Ultraviolet (TV series)|Ultraviolet]]'' uses "leech" for vampires.
* ''[[Battlestar Galactica
** It was mentioned once, in "Bastille Day" by Zarek, that humans from Sagittaron get called "stumps".
** In ''[[Caprica]]'', humans from Tauron are called "dirt eaters". The word "monad" also appears to be used as a somewhat derogatory term for monotheists.
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* ''[[The Muppet Show]]'': Rowlf is disgruntled about having to play the song "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow" in one episode. He says that for him as a dog, it's humiliating to be called a "bow-wow".
== [[Oral Tradition]], [[Folklore]], Myths and Legends ==
* At least one story about [[The Fair Folk]] states that you should ''not'' address one as a "fairy", they consider that an insult. Calling them "imps", "elves", or "fae" is okay, but they would prefer "Seelie". Some mortals who rightfully fear them use "Good Neighbor".
== [[Tabletop RPG]] ==
* In ''[[Shadowrun]]'' settings, or other cyberpunk, Elves are called "keebs" (from Keebler Elves) or "dandelion eaters" as a slur.
** Humans refer to Orks and Trolls, collectively, as "Trogs". Not to be out-done, the Orks call Humans "Breeders
** "Troglodyte" is a generic insult for anyone accused of being primitive
** Dwarves are "squats" or "halfers". And a dragon is "wizworm"
** Lizardmen call Skaven something that roughly translates to "twisted spawn of the rat". Mind you, this is an ''entirely accurate'' description.▼
*** On the other side of the coin, Skaven refer to just about everything else as "''X''-Thing" (Man-Thing, Dwarf-Thing, Dead Thing, etc...)▼
*** One sourcebook has a Skaven map which uses the Skaven vernacular, in which the Chaos Wastes, populated if at all by mutant monstrosities, is labeled "Thing-Things".▼
* In ''[[Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]'', werewolves call vampires "leeches," and the vampires (among others) call the werewolves "dogs." The werewolves also have Fantastic Slurs for each other -- "apes" and "monkeys" for those with human parents, "ferals" for those with wolf parents, and "mules" for those whose parents are both werewolves, and who are therefore sterile.
** In ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', ''every'' vampiric clan had a nickname. It could be playful or an obvious slur.
* In another [[White Wolf]] example, the superhero roleplaying game ''[[Trinity Universe (game)|Aberrant]]'' was titled after an in-setting slur—the superhumans of the setting were more politely referred to as "novas," but those distrustful of them (and some novas out to reclaim the term) use "aberrant." By the time of far-flung sequel ''Trinity'' (which was released first), though, the novas were commonly referred to as aberrants.
** On the other side of the coin, the term "baseline" specifies a person who is incapable of achieving Eruption (becoming a Nova), but quickly got co-opted as a slur against unerupted humans in general. "You wouldn't comprehend, you're just a baseline."
* ''[[Warhammer
▲** Lizardmen call Skaven something that roughly translates to "twisted spawn of the rat". Mind you, this is an ''entirely accurate'' description.
▲*** On the other side of the coin, Skaven refer to just about everything else as "''X''-Thing" (Man-Thing, Dwarf-Thing, Dead Thing, etc...)
▲*** One sourcebook has a Skaven map which uses the Skaven vernacular, in which the Chaos Wastes, populated if at all by mutant monstrosities, is labeled "Thing-Things".
* ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' - psychics call normal humans "blunts" (and are themselves "witches,", "warpfreaks," or "madboys.")
** Navigators, who are raised as nobles and can see the warp, have been known to refer to normal humans as "blinders."
** Techpriests of the Adeptus Mechanicus also do this to normal humans. At least one has been heard to call them 'meatbags.' Techpriests in turn are often called 'cogboys' or some other name referring to their heavy use of artificial limbs/organs.
*** According to the ''[[Ciaphas Cain]]'' novels, the term cogboy is actually one of the
** Non-humans are referred to by the Imperium as "xenos", "xeno" in the singular, a [[Noun Verber|nouning]] of the [[wikipedia:Xeno|Greek-derived prefix]].
** Orks are referred to by humans as "greenskins". Orks call humans "'umies," though this is probably just because they can't pronounce the word correctly. Orks also refer to Tau as "greyskin", and Eldar as "pointy-eared gits" or "panzees". Ork insults usually aren't of the most creative kind.
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** And interestingly enough Traveller geeks have a collection of metafictional jokes about Vargr. This is almost [[Defictionalization]] except it is real people making real slurs about a ''fictional'' race.
* The orcs from the German ''[[The Dark Eye]]'' are called blackpelts.
* [[Dungeons
**
*** The fiends don't like being called "D-words" ("demon" and "devil") typically used by the Clueless... and they aren't exactly renowned for good attitude to begin with.
** [[Spelljammer]] has "Groundling" for people who live on prime worlds but never explore Wildspace or travel via the Phlogiston - i.e. the [[Space Sailing]] equivalent of "landlubber".
** [[Forgotten Realms]] got a few. Orcs are "tuskers", for example.
** Especially the elves, who refer to the rest as "non-People" (more worldly elves talking to those who use it occasionally emphasize "other peoples" to make a point; also, surface elves and drow apply it to each other), then there was "dhaeraow" (black heart, metaphorically a traitor) which got corrupted into "drow" later; occasionally "Vyshaan" (name of the ruling clan mostly responsible for the breakup and decline of elvenkind, and eventually wiped out for this) used as an insult. A certain quarter-elf was called names such as «Biir ("garbage," used by commoner elves) or Zenar ("Less than half," as a nobles' double insult against himself and his half-breed father)»...
** There are local dishes, too. In Cormyr (and later elsewhere), a "highnose" is someone arrogant, and a "holynose" is a priest who gets high-and-mighty (might range from mildly pejorative to affectionate, but it's impolite to address someone this way). Cormanthyr used to have "White-Hand" as a reference to the army rank tattoo being magically altered upon dishonourable discharge.
* In ''[[Mutant Chronicles]]'' Capitol Armed Interdiction Police (riot cops) are sometimes called Apes, implying brutality, single-mindedness and stupidity.
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== Webcomics ==
* In ''[[Dominic Deegan]]'', [[Our Orcs Are Different|Orcs]] are insultingly referred to as "piggarts."
* In ''[[Girl Genius]]'' the [[Mad Scientist|Sparks]] are often called "madboys" or "madgirls"
** The sparks themselves generally call everyone else "minions." The word isn't offensive in and of itself, but is often made a part of rants against clumsy lab assistants.
** The "bunch of loonies" inhabiting Mechanicsburgh are known as "Mechaniacs", though so far it's not clear whether it's universally pejorative or only in a right context.
* ''[[Drowtales]]'': 'Drowhiir' (an impolite term for drowussu or grey drow), and 'Sick Bestiality Fetish' (said of a male drow who finds human women sexually attractive) are both used in-story.
* In ''[[Ugly Hill]]'', cyclops monsters are referred to as "winks."
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* In [[Planes of Eldlor]], "fallen" is one of the most common slurs used to refer to dark elves.
* In ''[[Poharex]]'', the dinosaurs use the word "human" as an insult.
* In ''[[Impure Blood]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20130624095659/http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Issue3/ib059.html freak lovers]—to be sure, the men he took down were stalking him to taunt him with the same thing.
* In ''[[Homestuck]]'', trolls right at the very bottom of their blood-colour based social structure are called 'rustbloods'. The more neutral term is 'lowblood'.
* In ''[[A Mad Tea Party]]'', genetically engineered people are derisively labeled "Genie."
* In ''[[The Dreadful]],'' half-demons are a fairly common humanoid race, but they're [[Fantastic Racism|second-class citizens]] and get called "Pinky
* In ''[[Our Little Adventure]]'', [http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0160.html drow use "sunnies". One explains that it's an insult.]
== [[Web Original]] ==
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** Which is taken from the game ''Republic Commando''. The accompanying books also give us "Tinnies" and "Wets," to refer to any organic enemy.
*** They also call Twi'leks "tailheads." Bad pun on "towelheads," or unintentional? You decide!
* ''[[The Fairly
** Don't forget Jorgan von Strangle's ever-so-creative, "pointy-headed freaks."
* ''[[Justice League (animation)|Justice League]] Unlimited'': In the episode "Hunter's Moon," Vigilante calls the Thanagarians "filthy hawks." I think that's the only time it's used, but the way it's said make it sound like "hawks" is a racial/species slur.
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* One particularly [[Anvilicious]] episode of ''[[Rolie Polie Olie]]'' had the square character, Billy, feel out of place in a world full of circles. The episode consisted of Rolie and his sister trying to help him fit in. While it ended well for Billy, both of them agreed that [[Broken Aesop|triangles didn't deserve to fit in]].
* It's apparently common for three horns in ''[[The Land Before Time]]'' to call long necks 'flatheads'. Petrie did use the term first not meaning to be insulting. However, Cera was not back with the group to hear him at that time, though she uses the term on her own after running into them. "My father told me that flatheads have very small brains!"
* In ''[[Winx Club]]'' (dub version only) , the word "pixie" is used derogatorily by some Cloud Tower students (and staff) when referring to those at Alfea, something the latter clearly does ''not'' like. Usually the term was used by the Trix, but occasionally even Griffin let it slip. This was no longer used after Season Two, where actual creatures properly called pixies were introduced.
* ''[[Rick and Morty]]''; when Summer uses the word "glib-glop", Rick scolds her and tells her not to let any a traflorkians hear her say that, claiming it's worse than the n-word to them, that it's "like the n-word and the c-word had a baby and it was raised by all the bad words for Jews". Seeing as Rick is himself a [[Sir Swearsalot]], he [[Parental Hypocrisy| uses the word himself]] a few scenes later.
* In ''[[Bravestarr]]'', calling [[Hobbits| Prairie People]] "critters" is considered offensive; Bravestarr himself accidentally lets the word slip, and has to apologize to Fuzz as a result. Although, seeing as the "critters" he was referring to are imposters trying to get the Prairie People in trouble, he can be given a mulligan there.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Otherness Tropes]]
[[Category:Prejudice Tropes]]
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[[Category:Fantastic Sapient Species Tropes]]
[[Category:Race Tropes]]
▲[[Category:Fantastic Slurs]]
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