Left-Handed Language
A lot of language around the world and throughout history has
been very detrimental to left-handers, whether it is the names we
are called or the words that are used to mean "left-handed".
Names for left-handers
Researchers preparing a survey of English dialects found 88
different words for 'left-handed' (mostly uncomplimentary) in local
use in the 1950's including the following:
| Buck-fisted |
Gar-pawed |
Left-kelly |
| Cack-handed |
Gibble-fisted |
Left-plug |
| Caggy |
Golly-handed |
Scoochy |
| Clicky |
Kay-neived |
Scrammy-handed |
| Corrie-pawed |
Keck-fisted |
Skiffle-handed |
| Cow-pawed |
Keggy-handed |
South-pawed |
| Cuddy-wifter |
Kerry |
Spuddy-handed |
| Dolly-pawed |
Kittaghy |
Squiffy |
More recently, we have also been told about:
Gollie Handed (Hull area in N.E. England)
Because their rudders were attached to the right side, ancient
sailing vessels were docked to the left. This side became the 'port
side'. Today left-handers (mostly in the USA) are sometimes called
'Port Siders'.
The term 'Southpaw' is derived from baseball. Parks were often
built with the homeplate in the western corner of the field. When a
left-handed pitcher was facing the batter, his throwing arm would
be the closest to the south, thus the term 'Southpaw' was
coined.
If you have any more examples or any comments or corrections, please Click Here To Email Keith to let us know.
Left-handed language
Left Handers do not do any better in foreign languages, as we
show below. If you have any more examples or any comments or corrections, please Click Here To Email Keith to let us know
| Language |
Words for "Left-Handed" |
Meanings |
| Greek |
Skaios |
Ill-omened, awkward |
| Italian |
Mancini |
Crooked, maimed |
| Spanish |
Zurdo
Siniestro
Chueco |
Reverse - No Ser Zurdo = Clever. Not usually used in an insulting way. In Argentina, the "zurdos" are seen as quite intelligent people
In spanish right handers are called "diestro" (which means= able), and siniestro means creapy, freak
Twisted |
| French |
Gauche |
Awkward, clumsy |
| Irish |
Ciotóg |
In the Gaelic language, pronounced 'kitt-ogue' (as in 'rogue'). Also means "the strange one". The term is also used by Irish people speaking in English - it would be frequently used in sports commentary and there is a a tv production company called Ciotog Films. |
| Dutch |
Linkshandig |
|
| German |
Links, Linkisch |
Awkward |
| Norwegian |
Kjevhendt |
Crooked-handed (also advised to us as keivhent,
left-hander) |
| Swedish |
vänsterhänt |
left-handed |
| Danish |
Venstre-håndet
Kejthåndet
Avethåndet |
neutral, "using the left hand"
to be "kejtet" means to be clumsy, awkward
(dialect): "avet" means clumsy, wrong |
| Finnish |
Vasenkätinen
Vasuri |
Left-handed
"Lefty" |
| Australia |
Mollie Dooker |
Something to do with having fists like a girl |
| Portuguese |
canhoto |
|
| Hindi |
Ulta Haanth |
The left hand in Hindi is called "Ulta Haanth", which literally translates to the opposite, wrong, bad hand. So much has this permeated that most lefties don't realise what they're saying, and wind up using the phrase themselves |
| Latin |
Sinister
Dexter |
On the left-hand side
On the right hand side (dextrous) |
Sayings where the word "left" does not fit
| Might is left-handed |
Wait for Mr Left to come along |
The divine left of Kings |
| His heart is in the left place |
He's not in his left mind |
It will all come left in the end |
Sayings where the word "right" does not fit
| Right in the lurch |
He was right at the post |
The right luggage office |
| Nothing but cold right-overs |
A right-handed compliment |
A man with two right feet |
|
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