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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call people Hun?

100 replies

hellcarryingahandbag · 03/03/2020 19:45

Hi all,
I'm going start by saying that I've NEVER EVER used Nethuns! I clearly watch too much reality television as I call everybody Hun (not Hon which is too Americanised). I also call everybody darling. Am I an MN abomination?

OP posts:
onlinelinda · 03/03/2020 22:42

I keep away from people using that term. It's ridiculous of me, but I can't help generalising about them.

SciFiScream · 03/03/2020 22:43

Another Scot. Another vote for it being an awful, awful word. At least hon is short for honey in terms of spelling. The spelling with a u has a long and unpleasant history and I always have to remind myself when I see it written that the person writing it probably isn't aware it's not a nice word!

Tillygetsit · 03/03/2020 22:49

I love honey. It's what dh calls me and he's a big rufty tufty bloke 😂

isabellerossignol · 03/03/2020 22:52

Another here who associates it with sectarianism.

AuntieMarys · 03/03/2020 22:53

Dreadful. I would have clench my fists.

Tanfastic · 03/03/2020 22:55

I think with me it depends who says it. I don't use it but I do sometimes say "my love". Also I have a colleague who is the nicest person ever, not a chav etc and she calls everyone hun/lovely lady/gorge. Another colleague calls everyone darling. I don't really find any terms of endearment offensive to be honest. I live in the north and everyone I know uses them.

SecretWitch · 03/03/2020 22:55

I love honey, sweetheart etc. Hun just grates on me though. I guess because someone once hunned me when she was trying to be nasty on a long ago MN thread.

TheMustressMhor · 03/03/2020 23:03

Someone once hunned me when she was trying to be nasty on a long ago MN thread

Shocking.

Another vote for Scottish West Coast Sectarian Insult Disaster, OP.

And you can keep "hubby" and "bubba" as well.

And "lovely", which is an adjective, not a noun.

nimsem2 · 03/03/2020 23:06

Do not like it.

pumpkinbump · 03/03/2020 23:51

Hun gets right on my wick.

CaptainCabinets · 04/03/2020 00:15

I’ve never used it to refer to someone I like Wink

FreakyPurple · 04/03/2020 00:23

I used to also find "dear" very patronising until I lived in the Middle East where it's a direct translation of the Arabic "habibi" and is used very sincerely by most native Arabic speakers. I'm in the habit of using it now that I'm no longer in the ME and I'm sure people think I'm being a dick.

And yes I also hate "hun", just feel very insincere.

A wonderful woman I worked with years ago used "missus" and I loved that for some reason, maybe because I thought she was ace,

HoomanMoomin · 04/03/2020 00:35

Unless they’re wearing a furry hat and coat, ride a horse and shout at you angrily in foreign language, YABU.

midwestspring · 04/03/2020 00:43

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–) from 2005 supplement. HUN, n. 1. Abusive name for a person who supports, or a footballer who plays for, Rangers Football Club.

Bearing in mind that Rangers/Celtic has sectarian issues inbuilt.

BlueThursday · 04/03/2020 00:53

Another in Glasgow where calling someone that would land you in deep shit at work

heartsonacake · 04/03/2020 01:22

Oh I hate hun and honey and the like. They’re so condescending and patronising.

Socalm · 04/03/2020 01:23

It's vile. Please stop.

Ryantrain · 04/03/2020 01:24

I'd rather hun over darling or love tbh

GraceBelly · 04/03/2020 01:29

I used to also find "dear" very patronising until I lived in the Middle East where it's a direct translation of the Arabic "habibi" and is used very sincerely by most native Arabic speakers

It is not a direct translation and isn't used very sincerely, more like smooth talkibg/ingratiation/flattery to strangers 😂

KhloKook · 04/03/2020 01:32

i use it

Rubyupbeat · 04/03/2020 02:05

Hun is as chav as babe!

Andylion · 04/03/2020 02:15

Another vote for Scottish West Coast Sectarian Insult Disaster,

Could someone explain this? I have also seen this post, below, and wondered about the derivation. (if it's not too rude.)

* Scottish National Dictionary (1700–) from 2005 supplement. HUN, n. 1. Abusive name for a person who supports, or a footballer who plays for, Rangers Football Club

midwestspring · 04/03/2020 02:26

@Andylion
* Gsw. 1994 Heraldd_ 27 Aug 9: 
... why followers of Rangers FC are known as "Huns". ... The Pope sent troops from Germany to assist King Billy. They were from Hanover and were a hussar regiment. In some parts of Ireland, protestants are yet known as "hussars" or "Hanovers". In the Black North, the Prods are oft*

Hope this helps explain it.

midwestspring · 04/03/2020 02:28

In the Black North, the Prods are oft referred to as "Huns".

Helps if I copy the whole definition!

midwestspring · 04/03/2020 02:31

The other thing you need to know is that Rangers was traditionally the Protestant football team and Celtic the Catholic one.
Asking what football you supported was an easy way of working out your wider ethnic/religious background.