Newfie


Newfie is a colloquial term used by Canadians for someone who is from Newfoundland. 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, leading to the derogatory nature of the term. The word was first recorded in a 1942 dictionary of slang.
During the Second World War, sailors on convoy 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, or the current edition of the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, published in 1998, make such a mention.

In March 2006, an Edmonton police officer was disciplined for using the word Newphie to describe the apprehension of an individual under the Mental Health Act.