Deprecatory Ethnonyms: The Case of Boanghin - Acta Universitatis Sapientiae

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Philologica, 15, 2 (2023) 106–122

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ausp-2023-0019

Abstract. In this study, we aim to analyse the origin and semantics of one of the lexemes used by Romanians to refer to Hungarians: boanghin(a), also used as boanghen(a). Besides a meta-analysis of this ethnic slur (emergence, meaning, semantic shifts, and etymology), we also refer to literary works in which these terms have been used. The archaic boanghin, or boanghen seems to be a political construct which has the purpose of naming the enemy and personifying the evil. It is a typical case of verbal abuse, mockery, or insult which used to display a significant amount of collectively formed, pejorative connotation. Today it is old-fashioned, as it has been replaced by another slur, i.e. bozgor, which is going to be presented in a forthcoming study.

Keywords: boanghin/boanghen, ethnic slur, etymology, meaning, Romanian, Hungarian