nigga

American  

[nig-uh] / ˈnɪg ə /

Also niggah

noun

Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a term used to refer to or address a Black person.

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Sensitive Note

Nigga is used mainly among African Americans, but also among other minorities and ethnicities, in a neutral or familiar way and as a friendly term of address. It is also common in rap music. However, nigga is taken to be extremely offensive when used by outsiders. Many people consider this word to be equally as offensive as nigger. The words nigger and nigga are pronounced alike in certain dialects, and so it has been claimed that they are one and the same word.

Etymology

Origin of nigga

Alteration of nigger, based on pronunciation

Example Sentences

“I’m just having fun with it,” he says, then, gratefully, “You know that a nigga was lost!”

From The New Yorker • May 24, 2016

It done mattah ’bout a pore nigga laik me.

From A Daughter of the Union by Madison, Lucy Foster