''Banana'', ''Coconut'', and ''Twinkie'' are

pejorative A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...

terms, primarily used for Asian Americans who are perceived to have been assimilated and acculturated into mainstream American culture and who do not conform to typical South Asian or

East Asian culture The East Asian cultural sphere, also known as the Sinosphere, the Sinic world, the Sinitic world, the Chinese cultural sphere, the Chinese character sphere encompasses multiple countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia that were historicall ...

s. ''Banana'' and ''Twinkie'' refer to a person being perceived as 'yellow on the outside, white on the inside', while ''Coconut'' is used to refer to darker-skinned Asians, such as those from South Asia or the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. Any of these terms may be used by Asians and Asian Americans, as well as nonAsian Americans, to disparage Asians or Asian Americans for a lack of perceived authenticity or conformity, and by nonAsian Americans to praise their assimilation into mainstream white, Anglo, Christian European-American culture.

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