beaner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Taboo / Offensive / Slang
Quick answer
What does “beaner” mean?
A highly offensive ethnic slur for a person of Mexican descent or Hispanic origin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly offensive ethnic slur for a person of Mexican descent or Hispanic origin.
Rarely, in very informal and dated non-offensive contexts, a person who grows or eats beans; also a type of baseball pitch (knuckleball). The term is overwhelmingly dominated by the offensive ethnic meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated and is predominantly used in the United States, tied to anti-Mexican sentiment. It is far less common in British English, though still understood as offensive.
Connotations
Extremely derogatory, racist, and hostile in both dialects. In the US, it carries strong associations with immigration debates and discrimination.
Frequency
High-frequency as a slur within certain contexts in the US; very low-frequency in the UK. The non-offensive meanings are virtually never used in modern English.
Grammar
How to Use “beaner” in a Sentence
[Subject] called him a beaner.The term 'beaner' is offensive.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never appropriate. Would constitute severe harassment.
Academic
Only mentioned in sociolinguistic, historical, or critical race studies discussing slurs.
Everyday
Taboo. Its use is socially unacceptable and likely to cause confrontation.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beaner”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beaner”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beaner”
- Mistaking it for a harmless term like 'bean-eater'.
- Attempting to use it in a 'friendly' or 'reclaimed' way without belonging to the targeted group.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a severe ethnic slur. Its use is offensive and unacceptable outside of very specific academic discussions about the slur itself.
Extremely rare. 'Beanball' is a pitch aimed at a batter, and 'beaner' was a very informal, dated term for a knuckleball or a pitcher. This usage is obsolete and now entirely overshadowed by the offensive meaning.
Recognize it as serious racist language. Depending on the situation, you may choose to calmly state that the term is a harmful slur, disengage, or report the incident if in a workplace or educational setting.
Dictionaries record the language as it is used, including offensive terms, to inform people of meanings they may encounter. Listing a word is not an endorsement; it is a description of its use and social impact.
A highly offensive ethnic slur for a person of Mexican descent or Hispanic origin.
Beaner is usually taboo / offensive / slang in register.
Beaner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiːnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No standard idioms)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DO NOT create a mnemonic for this word. Learners should actively avoid learning or using this term due to its offensive nature.
Conceptual Metaphor
METONYMY: A staple food (beans) stands for an entire ethnic group in a derogatory way.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might the word 'beaner' appear in an academic paper?