German edit

Etymology edit

From Insel +‎ Affe, literally island monkey. The word Affe is used in German both for boorish, rowdy persons and for affected, hoity-toity persons (compare affig, Lackaffe, indirectly also affektiert). Both of these qualities are sometimes associated with (different classes of) the British people.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

Inselaffe m (weak, genitive Inselaffen, plural Inselaffen)

  1. (derogatory, chiefly neologism) a British person

Usage notes edit

  • The word is now widely understood, but there is little or no attested use before circa 1990.

Declension edit

See also edit