Is 'canuck' offensive?

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Randy B

I've never found it offensive although I've seen a few, very few, references to it being so.

As a member of the military I've always understood it to refer to some of our earlier soldiers who served in combined Canadian/UK battalions, or CanUK battalions however I know thats not where it really started from.

The attached wiki article gives a number of possibilities where the phrase started from but as far as I'm concerned, as long as someone is using it in a positive light I'm fine with being called a Canuck. Kinda proud of it actually.

freeside49

not at all... as you say the vancouver "canucks" (or canukleheads as we call them here after losing another 5 straight)
People even here often refer to the canadian population in slang as canucks.

i personally dont take any offense at the term. Its like Yank or Ozzie or Brit

Jake

that's what we call ourselves...crazy canucks

Jord

not in the least bit offensive... and there is a hockey team that is a canadian fave named that...

but i don't believe it was ever an actual first nations tribe... just a mash up of a couple of different words...

blitzisbest

I honestly don't see why it would be insulting. I personally don't for sure. It's like calling Americans Yankees or the British Brits...

knh959

Generally no, it's not offensive. It's somewhat like calling an American a "Yank". Basically it depends on who says it and under what circumstances.

VoiceofCommonSense

In todays world, who knows? Too many people are so over sensitive, it's pathetic. Indian tribes wanted the Seminoles, Redskins and Chiefs to change their names because it was offensive. I guess that meant we have to change the name Cowboys too?
Now if a team was called the NY N words, I can understand that. Or if a team was called the Alabama Rednecks. That would be offensive. Except maybe to those in the state of Alabama. They actually might love that.
So once again. Who knows? Everyone is different. One day, a group of Canadians might start marching, wanting that name changed.

SteveN

You generally won't insult anyone by using the word "canuck". It is basically a slang term for a Canadian.

There are terms that some people in Canada find offensive but a lot depends on the context and who is saying it. For example, Canadians often tell jokes which generally poke fun at the simplicity or intelligence of the people from Newfoundland. The people are often referred to as "Newfies". But some people from that Atlantic province refer to themselves as newfies, and it is not meant in a derogatory way.

On the other hand, if you call a French Canadian a "frog", or if they call you a "tete carre" (squarehead), those are usually not considered polite nicknames!

Brianna's Mommy

I think that a few Canadians who get easily offended see it as being like the "n word" is among the black community...OK if Canadians use it, but not OK if others do. However, the large majority just see it as another term to mean Canadian. Don't worry, if we didn't like it, I'm sure that the Vancouver Canucks would have had to change their name already.

Gypsy

Nope, not offensive at all!

Kat

not in the least...

old lady

It's only offensive to the hockey teams that the Canacks beat.

Canuck is regarded as a friendly appelation.

If it's offensive, then we'll have to change the hockey team's name.

And the ski team's name. They were called the Crazy Canucks.

And even a superhero's name. He was called Captain Canuck.

Kate K

Nope we're canucks and kinda proud of it actually.

Just wanted to add.

"Squarehead" really? Wth does that even mean? Guess it makes as much sense as "frog". Shows how much I know about French Canadians (I live in Saskatchewan).

kwflamingo

Why should it be offensive? It's the name of a native tribe.

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