I have heard of the term "Yankee" often referring to people in the Northern U.S. by Southerners. My question is: is this term considered derogatory or offensive and should it be avoided in workplace settings?
Learn English – Is “Yankee” derogatory
pejorative-languagepolitenessslang
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Best Answer
I grew up in the northeastern U.S., and spent 20 years in the military, moving several times along the way.
In the northern states, the term is seldom used, and it's not considered derogatory. If anything, it's borderline patriotic, as in the song I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy. In the south, though, it's a different matter.
I once had a colleague tell me, "For a Yankee, you're alright." Yes, the term was being used in a derogatory way, and I got the impression he was only half joking.
In Mississippi, I was told more than once, "You Yankees just don't understand this!" It was intended as playful, but you could still detect a trace of genuine resentment.
The only exception to it being considered used in a derogatory way in the north is in the Boston area, and that's when it's referring to the New York baseball team.