Is it insulting or not? Why Ukrainians are called "hohlami"?

For example, why do Ukrainians are called "hohlami"? Where did this offensive nickname come from? Is it really offensive? Let's figure it out.

The word "khokhol": meaning and origin

After carrying out the semantic analysis , he had Turkic roots. "Ho" is the son in translation, and "hol" means the sky. It turns out very beautiful. The phrase "son of the sky" does not seem insulting or insulting. But why are Ukrainians called Ukrainians? Somehow this nationality does not attract such a nickname, especially if we take into account the context in which it is used. After all, all the jokes, where the "Khokhol" is mentioned, is not told about the divine essence of man, but quite the contrary. The term is used in pejorative sense. People are endowed with such, not at all decorating qualities, as cunning and greed. Some people still believe that in Ukraine, except gorilla and bacon, there are no other nationally recognized values.

Other meaning of the word

Understanding why Ukrainians are called Ukrainians, one can not help recalling the appearance of the most "untwisted" representatives of the nation. And it was, as you know, Zaporozhye Cossacks. Remember the painting by I. Repin? It depicts colorful Cossacks, the most striking feature of which is a long forelock that adorns the bald spot. This detail can also be called a tuft, that is, a crest like some birds. Perhaps, the origin of the offensive nickname is caused precisely by this distinctive feature, which the Cossacks were so proud of. Only Ukrainians do not agree with this. A strand of hair, they call a chub, or oseledtsem. Naturally, there is no connection with the khokhl.

Maybe the Tatar-Mongol yoke is to blame?

Finding out why Ukrainians are called khokhlis, researchers invariably raise the layers of history. And that's what turned out. It turns out that in the Mongolian language there is a similar in sounding concept: "hal-goal". It means "blue-yellow", which, as you know, is a combination of colors of the modern Ukrainian national flag. In the times of the Tatar-Mongol yoke with such banners were the Galician-Volyn warriors. They were called, according to the colors of the banners. Over time, the word could undergo changes and turn into "khokhol". It is clear that such a concept does not imply anything offensive. On the contrary. It shows belonging to the part of the country where people live who consider themselves to be real Ukrainians, unlike the rest. And after all, they are offended most often. Paradox!

Only Ukrainians are "Ukrainians"?

Understanding the terms, the researchers came across very interesting facts. So, according to their scientific findings, "Ukrainian" and "khokhol" - this is not the same, at least for certain territories. In Siberia, this nickname in the nineteenth century was called all natives from the south-west. Under the definition of "khokhol" came as Cossacks, and Belarusians, which generally do not associate with Ukraine. Also called all the southern Russians who migrated to the snow-covered areas of the country. And in the delta of the Danube live Old Believers, who are called so all different from them Orthodox. Now they live in the town of Vilkovo.

What dictionaries say

Finding out the meaning of any word, it is best to contact the interpreters who were engaged in research from a scientific point of view. On the question of why Ukrainians are Ukrainians, nevertheless, and they do not have a common opinion. So, SI Ozhegov recognizes the identity of concepts, and VI Dal argues with him. Modern researchers believe that "khokhol" is a pejorative, offensive name for a representative of a nationality, which has a chauvinistic connotation. There are researchers who say that the word is playful and familiar.

It all depends on who says what and what he puts into the term

In fact, only those who offend themselves to this word are offended by "Khokhl". Most people believe that this term only means a person's belonging to a particular nation. It is used as a familiar name, warmer and nearer than the official "Ukrainian". You can, of course, impose on it a semantic load, brought from anecdotes. There, if we generalize, "khokhol" is positioned as a person who is looking for a better place. His homeland is not Ukraine, but the place where the nourishing is. Only do serious people build their system of concepts, based on offensive stories? There is nothing offensive in such words as "khokhol" or "moskal", if you use them as a designation of belonging to an integral and united nation (friendly, naturally).

Thus, there is no reliable scientific definition of the origin of the word "khokhol". Equally, any of the above assumptions can occur. It is not important. In fact, the meaning has for what purpose the word under consideration is used. If it is used in a friendly conversation, then there is nothing offensive to the Ukrainian. Moreover, there are people who call and other "Russians", both Russians and Belarusians. For them, the crest is an Orthodox living in the post-Soviet space.