insulto discriminatorio
/insulto diskɾiminatoɾjo/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English word 'slur' (as an insult) is translated into Spanish using several terms depending on the context, primarily insulto discriminatorio. Wiktionary also lists insulto racista and insulto étnico.
Meaning: insult or slight (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| insulto discriminatorio | /insulto diskɾiminatoɾjo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| insulto racista | /insulto ɾaθista/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insulto ɾasista/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| insulto étnico | /insulto etniko/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
In Spanish, there is no single noun that perfectly maps to the English 'slur' in all contexts. One must often specify the type of insult (racial, ethnic, etc.) to convey the same weight.
Which one should you use?
While insulto is the general word for any insult, the specific terms insulto discriminatorio, insulto racista or insulto étnico are used when the insult is specifically a slur targeting identity.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the noun forms provided are masculine. If you wish to express the action of articulating words poorly, which is a different meaning of the English word 'slur', you can use the verbs mascullar or arrastrar las palabras.
How do you pronounce it?
/insulto diskɾiminatoɾjo/
Did you know?
- The word insulto comes from the Latin īnsultus, which originally meant 'to jump upon' or 'leap upon' someone.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'slur' is often described as una falta de respeto (a lack of respect) to emphasize the social breach rather than just the words used.
- Spanish distinguishes between insulto (a general insult) and ofensa (a slight), where the latter often implies a deeper wound to one's honor.
Examples in context
- Él lanzó un insulto racista durante la reunión.He made a racist slur during the meeting.
- No deberías usar un lenguaje tan despectivo.You shouldn't use such derogatory language.
- Me hizo un comentario despectivo sobre mi apariencia.He made a slur about my appearance.
- No toleramos ningún insulto discriminatorio en este lugar.We do not tolerate any discriminatory slur in this place.
- Ese insulto discriminatorio fue muy ofensivo para todos.That discriminatory slur was very offensive to everyone.
- Él fue sancionado por usar un insulto discriminatorio.He was sanctioned for using a discriminatory slur.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a workplace incident.
- JavierJavier, ¿viste lo que escribió el cliente?Javier, did you see what the client wrote?
- LucíaSí, Lucía. Usó un insulto discriminatorio muy fuerte.Yes, Lucía. He used a very strong discriminatory slur.
- JavierDebemos informar esto a Recursos Humanos.We must report this to Human Resources.
- LucíaTienes razón, es una falta de respeto grave.You are right, it is a serious lack of respect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slur” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries discriminatorio, insulto, racista, étnico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
