Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Beaner

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Beaner is a derogatory slang term that refers to Mexicans, used in reference to people of Hispanic ancestry. The term originates from the prevalence of pinto beans and other beans in Mexican cuisine.

According to The Historical Dictionary of American Slang, the word was first seen in print in 1965, although the term has reportedly been in use at least since the 1940s (perhaps having evolved from previous slurs such as "bean-eater" and "bean-bandit" that were in use since as far back as the 1910s.)

It appears that the term may be going through a phase of melioration, where the negative connotation of an ethnic slur is "reclaimed" by those against whom it is directed and used in a neutral or even positive manner.

References

Beaner Wikipedia