# wop

/ˈwɑp/ (US) · /wˈɒp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wop
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. ethnic slur

noun · CEFR C2 · Vulgar · Slang

a very rude and offensive name for a person from Italy or someone with Italian ancestors.

For teachers: 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.

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.

### 2. to hit

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Dialect

to hit or strike something hard.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: This spelling is rare in modern English; 'whop' is the standard form.

## Examples

- Using the word wop is extremely rude and should be avoided.
- The film was criticized for using the slur wop to dehumanize the Italian characters.
- Historical linguists note that the term wop originated as a pejorative in early twentieth-century America, reflecting the xenophobia directed toward Italian immigrants during that period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.