noun
nigga
NIH-guh
noun
1
An informal variant spelling and pronunciation of the slur "nigger," now also used by some Black speakers (especially in African American Vernacular English and hip-hop culture) as a casual, sometimes affectionate, term of address among themselves.
"Used this way, it functions much like "dude" or "man" between close friends within the community that has reclaimed it."
How to Use Nigga
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reclaimed variant of a racial slur, used by some Black speakers among themselves but considered off-limits for outsiders to use.
When to use it
Highly context-dependent; widely regarded as inappropriate for anyone outside the community it has been reclaimed within.
Word Forms
niggas plural
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Etymology
A dialectal respelling of "nigger" reflecting African American Vernacular English pronunciation, which took on a distinct, partly reclaimed meaning separate from the original slur.