Mudblood

Mudblood was a highly derogatory term for either a Muggle or a Muggle-born or half-blood wizard or witch, though more so the former than the latter; that is, individuals with close Muggle relatives. While there did not appear to be any difference in the magical power of Muggle-borns and half-bloods compared to those who were pure-blood, pure-blood supremacists still considered them to be of "lower breeding" and that they were supposed to be "third-class citizens". Mudblood itself was a term meaning that Muggle-borns had "dirty" blood and were a big disgrace to the wizarding world, and thus had no right to be a witch/wizard and were undeserving of magic. The slur implied that the individual has "dirty blood" and was considered extremely offensive. There were apparently other, less commonly used terms with a similar meaning, such as "creature of dirt".
==History of use==
===Use by Draco Malfoy===
When Draco Malfoy called Hermione Granger a Mudblood in 1992, he was nearly attacked by several members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and was nearly cursed by Ronald Weasley. When the Chamber of Secrets was opened he stated "You'll be next, Mudbloods!". 
When Harry Potter and Ron Weasley disguised themselves as Draco's friends Crabbe and Goyle (with the use of Polyjuice Potion) Malfoy described Harry as "Saint Potter, the Mudbloods' friend. He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger Mudblood". Draco also used the term to refer to those who had been petrified and taken to the Hospital Wing, telling whom he thought was Crabbe, "Well, go up to the hospital wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick from me". 
===Use by Muggle-borns===
There were some Muggle-borns who refused to allow the term to be degrading to them. For example, Lily Evans told her former friend Severus Snape that if he was going to refer to other Muggle-borns as "Mudbloods", then he had to use the term for her as well, not minding it much when he did so. Hermione Granger declared that she was proud to be a "Mudblood" in 1998.
==Usage of the term==
Person Who Used the Term 	Referring to 	Notes
Ron Weasley 	Term itself 	Explained its meaning to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in 1992.
Tom Marvolo Riddle/Voldemort	All Muggle-borns	His soul in the diary used the term the Chamber of Secrets in 1993 while speaking to Harry Potter.Mentioned the term several times throughout the Second Wizarding War and referred to Lily Evans this way when taunting Harry Potter about death and during their final duel in 1998.
Severus Snape 	Lily Evans 	Snape lashed out after Lily came to his assistance when he was being bullied by James Potter and Sirius Black in 1975. It resulted in the loss of his friendship with Lily, and would forever be his worst memory. Afterwards, Snape disliked even hearing the word "Mudblood" and at times forbade its usage.
Lily Evans 	Lily Evans 	After Snape tried to apologise for calling Lily a Mudblood, she retorted: "But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"
Lily Evans 	Herself 	After Snape tried to apologise for calling Lily a Mudblood, she retorted: "But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"
Lily Evans 	All Muggle-borns	After Snape tried to apologise for calling Lily a Mudblood, she retorted: "But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"
Draco Malfoy 	Hermione Granger	Malfoy first called Hermione a "Mudblood" in 1992; this was also the first time Harry Potter ever heard the term. Malfoy also called her a "Mudblood" on many other occasions.
Draco Malfoy 	 	Malfoy first called Hermione a "Mudblood" in 1992; this was also the first time Harry Potter ever heard the term. Malfoy also called her a "Mudblood" on many other occasions.
==See also==
*Blood purity
*Pure-blood
*Blood traitor
*Magbob
==Behind the scenes==
*In , after Draco Malfoy calls Hermione Granger a "filthy little Mudblood", it is shown that Hermione is already familiar with the term, which is odd, considering that it would be unlikely for her to hear it anywhere, and she and Rubeus Hagrid explain it to Harry Potter. Though it is possible that she could have learned about the word while doing research. In the novel, Hermione had never heard the word before, and Ron Weasley explains it to her and Harry.
*Much like other ethnic slurs in real-life, Hermione in self-reference used the term ironically. This is similar to how many members of certain ethnic minorities use slurs that were previously used to degrade and insult them as a form of self-identification in their respective cultural lexicons, while looking poorly upon those outside their ethnic backgrounds who still continue to use such terms derogatorily.
==Appearances==
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Category:Slurs