Two Words

Two words often mistaken, with usually disastrous results, as one:

1...Niggard
A noun.
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin.
Known since the 14th century.

A meanly covetous and stingy person. A miser


2...Nigger
A noun.
Alteration of earlier neger, from Middle French negre, from Spanish or Portuguese negro black, from Latin niger.
Known since the 1700s.

An offensive racial slur. A word expressive of racial hatred and bigotry.


These words are not related. As you can see, one is from the north of Europe, the other had its origins in the area of the Mediterranean.