The "n-word" originated from the Latin word "niger," which means "black." It entered English through French "nègre," Spanish "negro," and Portuguese "negro," initially as a neutral term synonymous with "negro." The term evolved in English as early as the 16th century in forms like "neger" or "niger" but became a derogatory racial slur by the mid-18th century and onward, especially during and after the Atlantic slave trade era. It shifted from a descriptor to a deeply offensive and violent slur over time.
The word was not "created" by any single person but linguistically evolved from these earlier terms related to the color black and racial classification, and its offensive meaning grew in usage through historical contexts of slavery and racism.
