Is the word...
 

...Paki offensive?

On another forum there's a massive discussion about the word. I personally don't see it as a derogative term. To me it's only an abbreviation but they're (the other board members) adamant that it's offence. So your opinions on the word.

Offensive or not offensive?

It certainly has picked up offensive connotations in England.There's no arguing about that.

i think its offensive. i grew up in yorkshire and its a very offensive word there. it has all kinds of connotations and is very frowned upon.

its like the word nigger but less used in general terms. if you say it in public then you will be looked on as a racist bnp member. if you say it some parts of yorkshire you will get into trouble with either the police or locals and probably given a slap or two.

That's the problem its connotations are now offensive cos idiots have taken it and now use it as an offense.

It's offensive when used as a blanket term for anyone from India major, especially given that a lot of Indians get called it (bearing in mind the long-standing tension between India and Pakistan). I wouldn't ever use it unless I knew a person very well. See also the following words:fag, nigger, Conservative, u2 fan. The last is the absolute lowest insult I can imagine.

Sensible words, I think.

Two points, if I may; the first is that in 95% of cases where it's used, it's intended in at best a derogatory manner and at worst a straight-out racist manner. So it has become racist.

The second is that the name 'Pakistan' roughly means 'Perfect Land', so the word 'paki' roughly means 'perfect' ('Pak' means 'pure'). The people using the word in a derogatory manner don't realise this, but it's funny to watch them when you point it out.

It's not a word I would use, certainly. As it happens, in fact, the few Pakistanis I know are very fine people indeed.