''Newfie'' (also ''Newf'' or sometimes ''Newfy'') is a
colloquial
Colloquialism (), also called colloquial language, everyday language or general parlance, is the linguistic style used for casual (informal) communication. It is the most common functional style of speech, the idiom normally employed in conve ...
term used by Canadians for someone who is from
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
. Some Newfoundlanders, consider "Newfie" as a
slur used by American and Canadian military forces stationed on the island. The term also has its use in mid-to-late 20th century Newfie jokes that depicted "Newfies" as foolish, in particular when told in
Canadian French
Canadian French (french: français canadien) is the French language as it is spoken in Canada. It includes multiple varieties, the most prominent of which is Québécois (Quebec French). Formerly ''Canadian French'' referred solely to Quebec ...
, leading to the derogatory nature of the term.
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, sailors on
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
duty nicknamed
St. John's ''Newfiejohn''.
Usage
The first edition of the ''Gage Canadian Dictionary,'' published in 1983, and the second edition of the ''
Random House Unabridged Dictionary,'' published in 1987, both include usage notes describing the term 'Newfie' as offensive. However, neither the second edition of the ''
Canadian Oxford Dictionary'', published in 2004, nor the current edition of the ''Dictionary of
Newfoundland English'', published in 1998, make such a mention.
In March 2006, an
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city an ...
police officer was disciplined for using the word ''Newphie'' to describe the apprehension of an individual under the Mental Health Act.
Edmonton Sun article reference
/ref>
See also
* '' Newfie Bullet'', an ironic
Irony (), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique.
Irony can be categorized into d ...
nickname created by U.S. military personnel serving at bases in Newfoundland during the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
for a notoriously slow passenger train
A passenger train is a train used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self p ...
operated on the island.
* Newfie Screech, a type of rum bottled in Newfoundland.
References
{{reflist
External links
Awareness/Education: Implications of the use of the word 'Newfie'
Discussion on Implications of the word 'Newfie'
HomeSickNewfies
A comedy podcast discussing 'Newfie' with a Newfoundlander
From Newfoundland to UpAlong.org
*
Regional nicknames
Pejorative demonyms
Canadian English