I might add that “ging-er” as above is usually a noun, the adjective is usually pronounced “jinjer” in all contexts, though I am not sure whether the “ginger” in “ginger minger” is an adjective or not.

Is it even the same word?  I know nothing of its usage in the ghinger (to rhyme with singer) pronunciation except that it is pejorative.  Is there any reason to suspect that it is (or was originally) used to refer to a particular brand of red-head?  Or is it just two words that are spelled the same but otherwise not related?

It seems likely that “ghinger” is a deliberate mispronounciation of “jinjer”, doesn’t it, especially when “jinjer” has an established use as a descriptor of “red” hair.

bayard - 21 October 2007 10:22 AM

It seems likely that “ghinger” is a deliberate mispronounciation of “jinjer”, doesn’t it, especially when “jinjer” has an established use as a descriptor of “red” hair.

It is a slangy deliberate mispronounciation of the same word

I’ve heard that ginger (initial g as in good, rhymes with linger) in the UK is intentionally offensive to all redheads.  That is fact because Chris Evans mentioned it on some chat show or other.  It can also be pronounced with an initial j, or any combination of j and g.  Either way, redheads have a raw deal.  I should know.