Word
wop
US/ˈwɑp/
UK/wˈɒp/
Definitions
01ethnic slur
n. a very rude and offensive name for a person from Italy or someone with Italian ancestors.
n. a derogatory ethnic slur used against people of Italian descent.
“The movie showed how people used hateful words like wop to insult immigrants in the past.”
“The script was criticized for its gratuitous use of the term wop, which served only to reinforce tired ethnic stereotypes without providing historical context.”
Vulgar · Slang
Teaching tip
This is a severe ethnic slur. Learners should never use this word and should be aware that it is considered highly offensive in all modern contexts.
02to hit
v. to hit or strike something hard.
v. an alternative spelling of 'whop', meaning to strike or hit with heavy force.
“He would wop the dusty rug with a stick to clean it.”
“In the old story, the giant threatened to wop anyone who dared to cross his bridge.”
Archaic · Dialect
Usage
This spelling is rare in modern English; 'whop' is the standard form.
Etymology
From Neapolitan guappo (“dude, stud”), a greeting borrowed from Spanish guapo (“bold, handsome”). Contrary to popular belief, the term is not an acronym of without passport or working off passage, which are backronyms derived from the term. First attested in New York City around 1906, eventually also spreading to Canada, Australia, and Britain.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/wop