Talk:diego

RFV discussion: February–March 2020

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diego

@DCDuring as creator. Is this term specific (meaning that there aren't a host of other common Spanish names which are also used to refer to Spanish speakers generally)? Also, is it slang? If so, is it regional? I have never heard this term, and it sure seems like slang, but right now it is treated equally with something like Latino. Other dictionaries don't seem to have this sense. - TheDaveRoss 13:47, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

I got this from Online Etymology Dictionary. The current article:

Dago (n.)

1823, from Spanish Diego "James" (see James). Said to have been originally American English slang for "one born of Spanish parents," especially in New Orleans; it was also used of Spanish or Portuguese sailors on English or American ships. By 1900 it had broadened to include non-sailors and shifted to mean chiefly "Italian." James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain, and Diego as generic for "a Spaniard" is attested in English from 1610s.

It's not in DARE, so it may not be US.

I'll see what I can find in Google Books fiction. DCDuring (talk) 14:44, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

• Cited IMHO. DCDuring (talk) 15:09, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

So this is like dago and should be labeled as slang, ethnic slur and offensive? - TheDaveRoss 15:48, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

The cites don't support anything except 'slang' or 'colloquial'. I'd never heard any use of any kind. DCDuring (talk) 23:32, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

I've cited the uppercase form as an altcaps form. Compare Fritz for a German or Tommy (not just in English but also e.g. German) for a Brit. I'm inclined to make some kind of coordinate-term list-template for these, ethnic terms derived from personal names. (There are edge cases: Jerry is also a personal name, but as an ethnic term is apparently just short for German.) - -sche (discuss) 05:36, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

Also, reportedly, James and Jimmy for Spaniard. DCDuring (talk) 12:01, 2 March 2020 (UTC)

RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 21:27, 10 March 2020 (UTC)