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You are here: Home / History / What is the origin of the term “spic” and What does it mean?

What is the origin of the term “spic” and What does it mean?

March 2, 2020 by Karen Hill

Some scholars think this insulting name for a Latino is related to how Latinos pronounce the word “speak,” as in “No spic English.”

However, it was applied to Italian Americans before being targeted against Hispanics, and might be an abbreviation of “spaghetti.”

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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