Skip to content
0
  • Definitions
    • Browse A–Z
    • Recently Added
    • Most Popular
    • Most Viewed
    • Word Lists
    • All Categories
  • Learn & Play
    • Hangman Game
    • Grammar Check
    • Common English Words
    • Words Containing "Black"
    • English Practice Chat
  • Articles
    • Evolution of Dictionaries
    • Business Jargon Decoded
    • Build Your Vocabulary
    • Word Etymology Guide
    • Commonly Confused Words
    • Medical Terminology
    • Legal Terminology
    • Business Communication
  • Definitions
    • Browse A–Z
    • Recently Added
    • Most Popular
    • Most Viewed
    • Word Lists
    • All Categories
  • Learn & Play
    • Hangman Game
    • Grammar Check
    • Common English Words
    • Words Containing "Black"
    • English Practice Chat
  • Articles
    • Evolution of Dictionaries
    • Business Jargon Decoded
    • Build Your Vocabulary
    • Word Etymology Guide
    • Commonly Confused Words
    • Medical Terminology
    • Legal Terminology
    • Business Communication
Collapse
Define Dictionary Meaning - True Words & Their Meanings
  1. Define Dictionary Meaning
  2. Categories
  3. Definitions
  4. Ofay

Ofay

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Definitions
10 Posts 8 Posters 1.3k Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • Beckyundefined Offline
    Beckyundefined Offline
    Becky
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    A word of unspecified West African origin that refers to white people. Its commonly used in the American South but has fallen out of favor as White Devil has assumed prominence.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • Justin Bieberundefined Offline
      Justin Bieberundefined Offline
      Justin Bieber
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      disparaging term for a Caucasian.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Tanya Shivariundefined Offline
        Tanya Shivariundefined Offline
        Tanya Shivari
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Insult to a white person from a black person meaning punk, cracker, bitch.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • Tinaundefined Offline
          Tinaundefined Offline
          Tina
          wrote on last edited by admin
          #4

          Still a mystery as to the origin of the word. It almost certainly isnt Gullah of West African. It almost certainly isnt from foe in Pig Latin as that form of Pig Latin didnt really start until 1920 and ofay was around from at least the 1890s. It usually wasnt used in a derogatory way about whites, but rather just as a matter of fact expression. Quite often used in early Black newspapers in columns written about theatrical performers and that the ofay owned the theater in which the Black performers, er uh, performed.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Magaretundefined Offline
            Magaretundefined Offline
            Magaret
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Term for White person used by Blacks, especially in the Low Country or Chicago in the early and mid [20th] cent. It began as derivation of fade which would sometimes be varied as [fay] or [ofay]. Eventually the variation replaced the original.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • Camiundefined Offline
              Camiundefined Offline
              Cami
              wrote on last edited by admin
              #6

              rather outdated Black English for foe, origin unknown. See page 26 of the [1971] [Bantam] edition of Ann Fairbairns novel Five Smooth Stones, where one of the African American characters, [Geneva], defines it as meaning foe but gives no hint of etymology. Id be tempted to go with the African origin.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Beckyundefined Offline
                Beckyundefined Offline
                Becky
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                dirrogutory [term] for [white folk].

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Julianundefined Offline
                  Julianundefined Offline
                  Julian
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  [Pig Latin] for [foe], hence, [Whitey].

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Vaniaundefined Offline
                    Vaniaundefined Offline
                    Vania
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    [punk],[cracker],[bitch]

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Beckyundefined Offline
                      Beckyundefined Offline
                      Becky
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      An offensive term for a white person, used by black people.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      Reply
                      • Reply as topic
                      Log in to reply
                      • Oldest to Newest
                      • Newest to Oldest
                      • Most Votes


                      Look Up a Word

                      Browse A–Z

                      ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWX YZ

                      Popular Definitions

                      1 Turban 2 Tripple 3 Blessing 4 Bonnet 5 Serendipity 6 Wanderlust 7 Nostalgia 8 Integrity
                      View all popular

                      Know a better definition?

                      Share your knowledge with the community

                      Add a Definition

                      Explore More Definitions

                      Browse our collection of 300,000+ community-written definitions

                      Browse A–Z Most Popular Recently Added
                      Define Dictionary Meaning
                      Most Popular Words All Definitions Terms of Service Privacy Policy Browse Lists

                      © 2026 Define Dictionary Meaning. All rights reserved

                      • Login

                      • Don't have an account? Register

                      • Login or register to search.
                      • First post
                        Last post