Skip to main content

Mysteries of vernacular: Yankee - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

82,230 Views

1,202 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Is it a doodle dandy? A baseball team? The origins of the word yankee are unclear, though its usage in America as a pejorative is well-documented. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel track the varying levels of contempt that the word yankee has elicited from the pre-Revolution era to today.

Why do you think the colonists transformed Yankee from an insult into a source of pride?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Jessica Oreck
  • Producer Rachael Teel
  • Educator Jessica Oreck, Rachael Teel

More from Mysteries of Vernacular