Is 'Russkie' offensive in English?

In America one sometimes hears Russians called 'the Russkies' (dunno how you spell it: Roosky, Ruskee?). Is that regarded as offensive or only comical?

I don't think so. Maybe it was meant to be but after all it's pretty much a Russian word that's been 'Americanized'. We all like to create names for people we consider(ed) different. I've been called Haole a few times but never take it personally... ;)

(Wikipedia)
Russki, Russkie
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs_by_ethnicity

Disparaging when used by foreigners for "Russian"[52] (actually, these are transliterations of the Russian "Русский" (in Russian pronounced: Rooskiy) for "Russian" and the spelling Russkiy is almost always in a literary context. "Russki" in Russian simply means someone who is an ethnic Russian as opposed to a minority nationality within the Russian Federation.)

no offence, we actually like it

In Polish though, "russki" is NOT the same as "rosyjski"! The former can sound demeaning, whereas the latter is the correct way of rendering "Russian", as in the language or culture:-)

"Ruski" in Polish also means "Ruthenian".

As I said, "ruski" in Polish can be demeaning. Imagine referring to a Brit as 'John Bull', a Frenchman as a 'frog', a Swede as a Dane etc..

It just wouldn't workLOL

Yeah, but with "ruski" it's different. Just add "-y" at the end (or "-ye" for plural) , and it's no longer demeaning and all Russians will like it. "Russkiy" and "Russkie" sound close enough, so it should be OK. But then again "Polak" and "Polack" also sound very close, but the latter one is highly offensive. So, over all, I think You're right, only for wrong reasons.

I don't consider Polack offensive at all, it's a completely neutral word for me :D. Dunno what one would find insulting about this word. I'm Polish ofc.

Polish-Americans however find "Polack" EXTREMELY offensive (as do I, and I'm not even Polish)!LOL

Heh, maybe you've come across some jerks that take such things too seriously :d.

Maybe you have absolutely no idea what are you talking about?

Go to black person and call him "nigger" and call pakistani "paki" and when they sue you, tell judge in the court that they are some "jerks that take such things too seriously" :D

Ok so explain me why should I go mad just because someone called me a Polack? Polish people are way too much sensitive from what I observe. Do you take every joke about polish thieves personally and burst with rage everytime you hear it? Man, just take it easy, for example I have a friend that used to be obese back in the past. Obvious thing that some people finally called him "fat pig". But instead of starting a fight he just said "Yea, I'm fat so watch out because the ground is trembling when I'm walking". Everyone laughed of course, nobody ever tried to insult him again because they knew it's impossible, moreover, everyone started liking him since then. You get what I mean? ;d

Words are nonetheless tools, not toys, and they can hurt, wound, or even kill!
Calling someone "a fat pig" is far from the same as calling them "a fat (Polish) pig", " cheap Jew", rather than simply "a miser", "cheapskate" etc..

See my point here?

prysznic, all words are to a certain extent laden with implication. Maybe you personally may not take offense if someone calls you a Polack, please understand though that such an epithet can cause severe hurt to many others. Sensitivity extends far beyond your own private realm and remember that race riots or the like all started with an 'innocent' little joke which turned out to be not so innocent:-)

When did I say that you should go mad? You should not accept it In a same way like blacks don't accept ppl calling them ******* etc...


I observe the same but I'm sorry to disappoint you that I'm not one of them.


This example has nothing to do with racial insulting.


You dont get what I mean.

Would you go to the the black and call him ******? Answer me this simple question because you seem to avoid

It's still better to laugh at it than to fight it, trust me. If someone doesn't like you just because you're Polish, it's not likely he will change his mind easily. It would be better to show that even though you are Polish you can still be a nice, good, clean, intelligent and honest person. This will have much greater impact on the way such guy thinks about Poles than just protesting and expressing your irritation. Also, the mere fact one uses the word "Polack" doesn't mean he wants to insult someone. Maybe he thinks it's how he should be calling Polish people, how do you know? Being polite, even to your enemies, is always the best way out.

Also I respect the fact you can get offended by it, maybe I'm too easy-going sometimes :D.

Sry for double posting.

To me, anyway, the issue is one of self respect, rather than some kind of patriotic arrogance. If a person has a sense of self worth, pride is a natural consequence. Insulting another's ethnicity, offends their pride and sense of self, i.e. feeling of personal, as reflected in national, achievement.

If you are so easy going, call an African American a "N*****" and respect the fact he can be offended by it. "P*****" is a well known English derogatory term for Poles and people of Polish descent. It's as strong as "son of a ******". Also, the same kinds of people use the word "N*****", that also use the word "P*****" - bigots, fascists and racists. ;D

From what I have heard from Russian Americans, calling a Russian a "Russkie" is equivalent to calling a Polish person a Pol**k, an Italian person a W*p, a Black person a Ni**er or a Jewish person a K*ke.

"Russky" came about during the Cold War, pre-Sputnik, era, when Americans were particularly paranoid about the so-callled "Red Menace"!
LOL

"Russkie" in Finnish means the russians but in a bad way.
The finns called the russians "russkie" in the second world war

It's not offensive at all. We say russkie as well as russiskie. They have different meanings. Russkie refers to ethnicity while Russiskie refers to nationality

Not sure. Part of my heritage is Russian. But there's also Irish and Czech. I've been called many things, Haole, Whitey, Cracker, Honky, Mick, Commie and various other names. Personally, I don't care what someone calls me. However, I do take offense at someone presuming offense on my behalf.

The emotional mind can often have a mind of its own or emotional intelligence which operates independently of the logical mind, and name-calling is a product of this emotional mind, an explosion of feeling in the form of barbed words. It is a tool a person uses to inflict pain. I am not offended by name calling but I wasn't always this way. I educated myself as to why I did get offended, and then I knew how to handle it. I gained back control of my feelings / emotions. I now pity anyone who intentionally inflicts or attempts to inflict injury to anyone, in any manner. I now know I am not any of the names anyone could call me. I am more, now, than they will ever be. :D

I commend Prysznic and agree with squidoutofguam. I never knew how many names, or labels, there are. My goodness how very sad. How very shocking. Mean people need love and understanding too, but I think this would come right after a good spanking! Seriously the old saying, "You get what you give." should be enough. ...sigh... if only it were.