View source for Harry (derogatory term)

{{Short description|Norwegian derogatory term used in slang}}
'''Harry''' is a [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] derogatory term used in slang, derived from the [[England|English]] name [[Harry (given name)|Harry]].<ref name="Dictionary">{{cite web | url=http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/ordboksoek/ordbok.cgi?OPP=harry&bokmaal=S%F8k+i+Bokm%E5lsordboka&ordbok=bokmaal&alfabet=n&renset=j |title=Entry on "harry" |language=Norwegian}}</ref> The best English translation may be "cheesy" or "tacky". ''[[Norsk ordbok (Riksmål)|Norsk ordbok]]'' defines "harry" as "tasteless, vulgar".<ref name="no" />

The term "harry" was first used by [[upper class]] youth in [[Oslo]] in the beginning of the 20th century and was used to describe people who belonged to the [[working class]]. People in the lower social classes at the time often gave their children [[England|English]] first names such as [[Harry (given name)|Harry]]. The middle and upper classes mostly preferred Scandinavian or German (and occasionally French) names. English names (except English names that are also widely found in other European languages) had no tradition in Scandinavia and were generally considered bad taste and as a phenomenon of the working-class of the time in all the Scandinavian countries. The traditional elite of Norway mostly used conservative Danish names.

A person who is ''harry'' is often perceived as unsophisticated, vulgar or with bad taste.<ref name="Dictionary" /><ref name="no">{{cite web |url=http://ordnett.no/ordbok.html?search=harry&search_type=&publications=23 |title=Entry on "Harry" |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="financialExpress">{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/&8216harry&8217-pottiness-stirs-swedishnorwegian-shop-war/40443/|title=‘Harry’ Pottiness Stirs Swedish-Norwegian Shop War|date=March 16, 2002|publisher=Financial Express|accessdate=2009-03-20}}</ref> The effect of bad taste is often characterized with the term ''harry'', e.g. a ''harry'' dress or a ''harry'' car. Since the definition of good and bad taste is defined by fashion, there is no precise definition of ''harry''. [[D.D.E. (band)|D.D.E.]], [[Sputnik_(singer)|Sputnik]], shopping in [[Sweden]], [[Raggare]] culture and [[Mullet (haircut)|mullet]]s are often mentioned today{{clarify|date=August 2020}}. In the 1970s, it was the 1960s hairwax or sharp shoes that were harry. In the 1980s, the 1970s flared pants or whiskers and in the 1990s, more or less everything that could be associated with the 1980s. Yesterday's fashion will often be interpreted as harry. Often what is harry in one period can be hip [[retro]] fashion the next year.

Harry may also be interpreted as something like [[Machismo|macho]]. The feminine parallel is ''doris''.

The term was repopularised by then Minister of Agriculture [[Lars Sponheim]] in 2002 to describe Norwegians who drive (in some cases, for hours) to reach and cross the border to [[Sweden]] in order to [[Border trade|purchase groceries, tobacco, and alcohol at cheaper prices]]. Responses to this were retorts that seeking out bargains is smart shopping and Swedish shops introduced humorous campaigns with one shopkeeper giving 1000 [[Swedish krona|SEK]] to customers named "Harry".<ref name="financialExpress"/> The terms ''Harrytur'' ("Harry trip") or ''Harryhandel'' ("Harry trade") have since been popular descriptions of this trade.<ref>[http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/02/16/nyheter/utenriks/harry-handel/4884668/ Harryhandel til halv pris] Dagbladet, February 16, 2009 {{in lang|no}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bogan]], Australian term

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Literature==
* [[Are Kalvø|Kalvø, Are]]: ''Harry''. Det Norske Samlaget. {{ISBN|82-521-5419-0}}

[[Category:Class-related slurs]]
[[Category:Norwegian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Social class in Norway]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of the working class]]
[[Category:Working class in Europe]]