The Nazi "Untermensch" Slur and Jewish "Goyim" Label Explained: Similarities and Differences.
The terms "goyim" and "Untermensch" are frequently mentioned together in online discussions, often with the implication that they are equivalent—both allegedly dehumanizing slurs used to justify mistreatment of out-groups. However, this comparison is deeply misleading. The two terms differ profoundly in origin, intent, historical context, and impact. "Goyim" is a Hebrew/Yiddish word that simply means "nations" or, by extension, "non-Jew/Gentile," and is generally neutral. "Untermensch," by contrast, was a deliberately crafted Nazi term meaning "subhuman," designed explicitly to dehumanize entire populations and facilitate their extermination.
1. The Jewish Term "Goyim" (or "Goy")Etymology and Original Meaning
The Hebrew word goy (plural: goyim) literally means "nation." It appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), where it refers to any nation, including the Israelites themselves (e.g., in Exodus 19:6, Israel is described as a "holy goy"). Over time, in rabbinic and later Yiddish usage, it came to refer primarily to non-Jewish nations or individuals—essentially equivalent to the English word "Gentile."Everyday Usage
In Yiddish-speaking communities and modern Hebrew, "goy" is the standard, largely neutral term for a non-Jew. It functions similarly to terms other cultures use for outsiders (e.g., "gaijin" in Japanese for foreigner, or "barbarian" in ancient Greek, originally meaning "non-Greek speaker"). It marks a religious/ethnic distinction without inherently implying inferiority.Pejorative Connotations
The term can acquire a dismissive or derogatory tone in certain contexts, especially when expressing frustration rooted in historical persecution (e.g., the Yiddish phrase "goyisher kop" meaning "Gentile head," used to call someone foolish). Such usage is colloquial and situational, not doctrinal.Common Misconceptions
Antisemitic conspiracy theories falsely claim that "goy" or "goyim" means "cattle," implying Jews view non-Jews as animals. This is a fabrication with no basis in Hebrew or Jewish texts. The myth appears to stem from deliberate distortions circulated in far-right and antisemitic literature.Modern Context
Many Jews today use "goy" neutrally or avoid it to prevent misunderstanding. Far-right extremists have ironically attempted to "reclaim" the term mockingly in conspiracy theories (e.g., "the goyim know"), turning a benign descriptor into a weapon against Jews.2. The Nazi Term "Untermensch"Origin and Meaning
"Untermensch" is a German compound word meaning "under-man" or "subhuman." It was popularized by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s as part of their racial ideology. The term was used to classify Jews, Romani people, Slavs (Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, etc.), Black people, and others as biologically and spiritually inferior.Propaganda and Dehumanization
The most infamous use came in the 1935 SS propaganda pamphlet Der Untermensch, which portrayed targeted groups as ape-like, parasitic creatures—lower than animals and a threat to Aryan purity. The explicit purpose was to strip these people of human status, making their mass murder psychologically easier for perpetrators.Historical Consequences
The concept of Untermenschen directly underpinned Nazi policies of forced sterilization, enslavement, ghettoization, and industrial-scale genocide. It was a core justification for the Holocaust (the murder of six million Jews) and the wider extermination campaigns in Eastern Europe that killed millions more Slavs and others.Modern Usage
Today the term is almost exclusively used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists to express the same racial hatred. It remains one of the most overtly violent and genocidal slurs in modern history.Similarities and Differences
Key Similarities
The Hebrew word goy (plural: goyim) literally means "nation." It appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), where it refers to any nation, including the Israelites themselves (e.g., in Exodus 19:6, Israel is described as a "holy goy"). Over time, in rabbinic and later Yiddish usage, it came to refer primarily to non-Jewish nations or individuals—essentially equivalent to the English word "Gentile."Everyday Usage
In Yiddish-speaking communities and modern Hebrew, "goy" is the standard, largely neutral term for a non-Jew. It functions similarly to terms other cultures use for outsiders (e.g., "gaijin" in Japanese for foreigner, or "barbarian" in ancient Greek, originally meaning "non-Greek speaker"). It marks a religious/ethnic distinction without inherently implying inferiority.Pejorative Connotations
The term can acquire a dismissive or derogatory tone in certain contexts, especially when expressing frustration rooted in historical persecution (e.g., the Yiddish phrase "goyisher kop" meaning "Gentile head," used to call someone foolish). Such usage is colloquial and situational, not doctrinal.Common Misconceptions
Antisemitic conspiracy theories falsely claim that "goy" or "goyim" means "cattle," implying Jews view non-Jews as animals. This is a fabrication with no basis in Hebrew or Jewish texts. The myth appears to stem from deliberate distortions circulated in far-right and antisemitic literature.Modern Context
Many Jews today use "goy" neutrally or avoid it to prevent misunderstanding. Far-right extremists have ironically attempted to "reclaim" the term mockingly in conspiracy theories (e.g., "the goyim know"), turning a benign descriptor into a weapon against Jews.2. The Nazi Term "Untermensch"Origin and Meaning
"Untermensch" is a German compound word meaning "under-man" or "subhuman." It was popularized by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s as part of their racial ideology. The term was used to classify Jews, Romani people, Slavs (Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, etc.), Black people, and others as biologically and spiritually inferior.Propaganda and Dehumanization
The most infamous use came in the 1935 SS propaganda pamphlet Der Untermensch, which portrayed targeted groups as ape-like, parasitic creatures—lower than animals and a threat to Aryan purity. The explicit purpose was to strip these people of human status, making their mass murder psychologically easier for perpetrators.Historical Consequences
The concept of Untermenschen directly underpinned Nazi policies of forced sterilization, enslavement, ghettoization, and industrial-scale genocide. It was a core justification for the Holocaust (the murder of six million Jews) and the wider extermination campaigns in Eastern Europe that killed millions more Slavs and others.Modern Usage
Today the term is almost exclusively used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists to express the same racial hatred. It remains one of the most overtly violent and genocidal slurs in modern history.Similarities and Differences
Feature | Goy / Goyim | Untermensch |
|---|---|---|
Origin | Ancient Hebrew (Bible), later Yiddish | 20th-century Nazi racial ideology/propaganda |
Literal Meaning | Nation / Nations (later: Gentile/non-Jew) | Subhuman / Under-man |
Primary Intent | Descriptive identifier of religious/ethnic other | Dehumanization to justify extermination |
Derogatory Nature | Generally neutral; can be pejorative in tone | Inherently and violently pejorative |
Historical Role | Maintaining Jewish separateness/identity | Core justification for genocide and racial war |
Association with Violence | None systematic; not linked to mass killing | Direct ideological driver of the Holocaust and other genocides |
Modern Usage | Neutral or colloquial among Jews; misused by antisemites | Exclusive to neo-Nazis and hate groups |
- Both create a "we" vs. "them" distinction, a common feature of many cultural and ethnic identifiers.
- Both can be (and have been) misused to marginalize or express contempt, though on vastly different scales.
- Intent and Intensity: "Goy" is a descriptive out-group label with no doctrinal implication of inferiority. "Untermensch" was engineered specifically to portray people as less than human and deserving of annihilation.
- Power Dynamics: "Goy" was used by a historically persecuted minority to describe the majority. "Untermensch" was imposed by a genocidal regime on powerless victims.
- Consequences: The term "goy" has never been linked to systematic violence. "Untermensch" was a direct ideological precursor to the murder of millions.
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