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What is the difference between a freak and a fag? Can a freak be a fag and vice versa?

:E: These are 2 different words :). Guess meaning of the word "fag" differs in dialects (if you can consider american english a dialect, for instance), but generaly its slang for "homosexual", like "queer", but more offensive. Ofcuz homos can be freaky and freaks can be homos :), whatever meaning of "freak" you choose.

i'd say,

Цитата: "Алексей Гринь" от
fag is 1) педик (гомосексуалист) 2) долбоёб (просто ругательство)

Note that the first meaning usually considered peiorative and you better not use this word in such context, unless it´s what you wanna say.
It can be used as a word of derision, as well. Eg. newfag, oldfag, furfag etc.
Also, in UK English "fag" means a cigarette (=cig) :)

As for freak. In modern English this word usually doesn't have negative connotations. Never heard it as a curse. This word is used simply to refer to a person with something unusual about their appearance or behavior. I.e. somehow eccentric person. It can also mean a person who is obsessed with something, eg. Esperanto freak.

Цитата: "Dana" от
It can be used as a word of derision, as well. Eg. newfag, oldfag, furfag etc.

fag < faggot < it. fagotto
-fag < gr. -φάγος

different roots, different words

Цитата: Rezia от апреля  9, 2009, 23:46
What is the difference between a freak and a fag? Can a freak be a fag and vice versa?

Only thing I know that you shouldn't use these words not to offend someone. And better you don't understand their meanings not to be offended. :)

ЦитироватьAlso, in UK English "fag" means a cigarette (=cig)

Even in Brittish "fag" means "homo" now, considered americanism in UK english, via american popular culture (films, books etc).

Well, I think I ran into it, I mean "a fag" meaning "a butt of a cigarette".

Fag also has another meaning in British English. In the public schools (a term that means private schools in British English!!!!), there used to be a "fag system", where the younger boys would serve the older boys. Polish their shoes for them and that sort of thing. Or even provide them with sexual services.

Цитата: djwebb1969 от сентября  4, 2009, 12:32
there used to be a "fag system", where the younger boys would serve the older boys.

Real dedovschina!  :=

Цитата: djwebb1969 от сентября  4, 2009, 12:32
Polish their shoes for them and that sort of thing. Or even provide them with sexual services.

Hrenase! :o
Sorry for my french. ;)

Цитата: myst от сентября  4, 2009, 13:29

Цитата: djwebb1969 от сентября  4, 2009, 12:32
Or even provide them with sexual services.

Hrenase! :o
Sorry for my french. ;)

No wonder. Today's free society 8-)

Цитата: myst от сентября  4, 2009, 13:29
Hrenase!

The dramatic effect in Russia?

Цитата: Dana от апреля 10, 2009, 12:52
Eg. newfag, oldfag, furfag etc.

gb2/b/

Here in New York, the word "fag(got)" is only used as an offensive way to refer to a homosexual man. I haven't really heard it be used in a meaning different from that.

The local школотa high school students use the word "fag" as the worst possible insult while addressing a straight kid.

It never means anything like "idiot" or "freak" though. I mean, it may, but the sexual connotation is always there.

Цитата: Алексей Гринь от апреля 10, 2009, 00:47
2) долбоёб (просто ругательство)

Uhm, not really...

Цитата: regn от апреля  9, 2010, 07:09
Here in New York, the word "fag(got)" is only used as an offensive way to refer to a homosexual man. I haven't really heard it be used in a meaning different from that.

The local школотa high school students use the word "fag" as the worst possible insult while addressing a straight kid.

It never means anything like "idiot" or "freak" though. I mean, it may, but the sexual connotation is always there.

My friends say "what a fag" meaning "why are you being gay" meaning "you are not being cool"
"gay" and "fag" just mean random pejoratives here like "dumb" and "idiot"

but "queer" for example would almost always refer to a homosexual (although "gay" is used more)

Some of the local gay guys use that among themselves as a way to poke/ridicule/humor each other. Like, one can say to his bf, "It's because you're a fag, sugar!"

The same applies to the word "nigger".

Using "fag" or "nigger" outside the above-mentioned groups is offensive.

Цитата: iopq от апреля  9, 2010, 07:15
My friends say "what a fag" meaning "why are you being gay" meaning "you are not being cool"

That's funny... Maybe, it's regional. I just asked 4 people about it. They all say that "fag" never sounds non-sexual to them.

Цитата: regn от апреля  9, 2010, 07:16
Some of the local gay guys use that among themselves as a way to poke/ridicule/humor each other. Like, one can say to his bf, "It's because you're a fag, sugar!"

The same applies to the word "nigger".

Using "fag" or "nigger" outside the above-mentioned groups is offensive.

offensive to them
but people outside of those groups use "fag" and "nigger" as swears

I'm playing video games and I hear my friend from south carolina say things like "that nigger just killed me"
of course, it's still very offensive, but somehow white people love telling each other nigger jokes

I got one:
-What do you do when you see a nigger with half a face?
-Stop laughing and reload

Цитата: iopq от апреля  9, 2010, 07:20
I'm playing video games and I hear my friend from south carolina say things like "that nigger just killed me"
of course, it's still very offensive, but somehow white people love telling each other nigger jokes

Geez... There are some big regional differences. NONE of the people I know would ever dare say the "n" word anywhere in public. It immediately puts a label on you which will later be VERY difficult to get rid of.

I remember having a conversation about races with my friends. A couple of guys from Venezuela were participating in it. After using the code expression "the n-word" a couple of times, they used the word "nigger" once or twice, but every time they would start their sentences by referring to "spics" and how terrible that word is. They would justify their usage of the n-word by using the word "spic".

Цитата: regn от апреля  9, 2010, 07:23
NONE of the people I know would ever dare say the "n" word anywhere in public. It immediately puts a label on you which will later be VERY difficult to get rid of.

Some people just have nada to lose :)

True :)

Цитата: regn от апреля  9, 2010, 07:23

Цитата: iopq от апреля  9, 2010, 07:20
I'm playing video games and I hear my friend from south carolina say things like "that nigger just killed me"
of course, it's still very offensive, but somehow white people love telling each other nigger jokes

Geez... There are some big regional differences. NONE of the people I know would ever dare say the "n" word anywhere in public. It immediately puts a label on you which will later be VERY difficult to get rid of.

it's not public, it's playing video games at home / talking between friends
or in some games talking to people over the internet and trying to piss them off (despite them being on your team  ;D)

Цитата: Алексей Гринь от апреля 10, 2009, 15:46

Цитата: "Dana" от
It can be used as a word of derision, as well. Eg. newfag, oldfag, furfag etc.

fag < faggot < it. fagotto
-fag < gr. -φάγος

different roots, different words

What you think of is probably the root -phage derived from Greek -φάγος like in 'bacteriophage' but in those examples Dana gave -fag has nothing to do with it. Those words are formed using -fag and thereby express negative attitude of someone saying them; meaning may vary, example 'newfag' just means newbie, whilst 'furfag' is a person gets aroused by so-called furries.

"Fag" is a rude way of referring to a homosexual, and it can be considered insulting.

"Freak" is a very general term, and it is not necessarily a negative thing.  In reality, it can mean many different things.  For example, if you are very interested in learning and studying foreign languages, you could be called a "language freak".

It can also refer to a crazy person, or someone who has unusual characteristics.  I am not sure if they do this today, but certain carnivals used to have "freak shows" where they would display people with unusual physical attributes, such as having two heads or five arms.

There's also the phrase "to freak out", "to freak out about something", which means to become angry/emotional about a certain issue.

Цитата: iopq от апреля  9, 2010, 07:20
somehow white people love telling each other nigger jokes

That is perhaps they ARE racist, don't you think? They can say it is a joke all they want, but repeating racial slurs isn't exceptionally funny

Цитата: WorldTraveler от июня  7, 2011, 11:13
That is perhaps they ARE racist

"because they are racist"
"Fag" is generally an offensive word, and not necessarily with a sexual connotation. It can denote either a "homosexual" or a "person whose behaviour is inadequate/offensive/stupid and therefore strongly disapproved". I'm guessing it got it's second meaning from being used pejoratively towards gay people, and now it is used more often to offend anyone. So Russian equivalent would be something like "pidoras" or "pidor", also possibly "kozel".
"Freak" means somebody abnormal, a person with some kind of deviation: in appearance, in character, in behaviour. The latter is especially true in modern usage; for instance, a "neat-freak" is someone who obsesses with cleanliness and order. It can be used as a general (not in any way scientific!) word for some psychological disorders. It is true, freak is not always an offensive word, but not a very polite one either.
Freak is used quite often to describe a person with a sexual abnormality, or simply someone who engages in unconventional sexual practices. I suppose that's when "freak" and "fag" can be used interchangeably, or, at least, synonimically. Hope that answered the OP's question :smoke:

Цитата: WorldTraveler от июня  7, 2011, 11:13

Цитата: iopq от апреля  9, 2010, 07:20
somehow white people love telling each other nigger jokes

That is perhaps they ARE racist, don't you think? They can say it is a joke all they want, but repeating racial slurs isn't exceptionally funny

Jokes aren't about repeating racial slurs

here's an example:
Why are black people tall?
Because their knee grows.

It alludes to the word "negro" which isn't a racial slur, even though the word has fallen out of favor in recent years.

"Fag" is a big no-no word,almost like a taboo at work or among people whom you do not know very well.

As for  the word "freak", it actually depends. Once i used "Jesus freaks" naming a couple of patrons who stopped by our library. One of my colleagues came up to me and said "Hey! You might be reported for using this expression at work." :-[ I had not even thought about it at all at that time; now i watch my mouth :yes:  :o  But my husband uses the expression 'What a freak!" all the time for many situations, referring to bizarre people, or hipsters.

Цитата: iopq от июня  7, 2011, 19:08
Jokes aren't about repeating racial slurs

jokes that have the word "nigger" in them are, and that's what my post was about.
i want to see one of you jokesters tell an "N-word" joke to a black person's face, that might teach you a whole lot more than any dictionary ever will

Цитата: WorldTraveler от июня 11, 2011, 14:30

Цитата: iopq от июня  7, 2011, 19:08
Jokes aren't about repeating racial slurs

jokes that have the word "nigger" in them are, and that's what my post was about.
i want to see one of you jokesters tell an "N-word" joke to a black person's face, that might teach you a whole lot more than any dictionary ever will

I've told a few of these jokes to my black friend and he told me he doesn't get it

Also, some americans freak out when the word "russkii" is used. They think it is an offensive term to label Russians. 

Цитата: mwanamaji от июня 11, 2011, 22:18

Also, some americans freak out when the word "russkii" is used. They think it is an offensive term to label Russians.

also cf. Polack and Polak, Polka

Цитата: mwanamaji от июня 11, 2011, 22:18
Also, some americans freak out when the word "russkii" is used. They think it is an offensive term to label Russians.

Even Russians do that.

There was a story about a Russian woman from Poland who was offensed by Poles calling her "ruska" instead of "rosjanka". She even took the matter to court (which ruled out that "ruski" isn't a slur, just a colloquial word).

Such cases.