History Main / EveryoneCallsHimElf

Some characters know each other enough to speak on a FirstNameBasis. Other times the setting calls for a more formal LastNameBasis.

Then we have this. A character either doesn't know or doesn't care to use the subject's proper name and instead calls them by their race.

This trope refers mostly to those settings where each race is fundamentally different to one another. Because of this, it is most common in fantasy or science fiction works. Stories featuring the FiveRaces are almost certain to possess some measure of this, though certain other settings, such as a WorldOfFunnyAnimals also apply. However, it does not refer to PresentDay settings, such as use of the [[NWordPrivileges N-Word]] as these are almost certain to be derogatory unless shown otherwise. While FantasticRacism often does tie into this it is not the only reason for it.

The reasons for referring to one by their race tend to be more varied in fantastical settings than they are in [[RealLife reality]]. It could be a sign of respect, or [[FantasticRacism lack of it]]. Maybe they haven't yet been properly introduced. Maybe the other character's name is simply [[AerithAndBob too strange to pronounce]]. This is particularly common among TokenNonhuman characters. Legolas and Gimli are, for example, the token elf and dwarf in the TheLordOfTheRings.

In such situations don't expect any confusion to come of this, even if more than one of said race is present. Somehow, even with all the use of racial designation, the characters always seem to know which individual is being called upon any time the name of their race is uttered by another. In extreme cases, characters will do this even when speaking to others of their own race.

Naturally, there is a bit of TruthInTelevision to this. However, due to the fact that most of these tend to be derogatory and offensive, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

Note that the title is a play on EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep, but it is more closely related to [[FirstNameBasis name]] [[LastNameBasis basis]] [[KnownOnlyByTheirNickname tropes]] and doesn't necessarily refer to a character who lacks a proper name.

See also FirstNameBasis, and LastNameBasis. Related to HeyYou. Compare EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep when this is done with professions rather than race, and NWordPrivileges where a certain term (normally those found in RealLife) is "derogatory without permission". If doing this doubles as FirstNameBasis then you're probably on a PlanetOfSteves. In works involving animals this will likely be a case of SpeciesSurname.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime And Manga ]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', many of the characters refer to other races by the names of the races, subraces, or epithets such as "Shinigami", "Arrancar", "Quincy", etc. In particular, the HotBlooded Grimmjow alternates between this trope and LastNameBasis for the protagonist.
* In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Vegeta routinely called Piccolo 'Namek' in the English dub, interchangeable with Namekian as even Piccolo describes himself as 'a Namek' to others.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* Downplayed in ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'', where Azeem calls Robin "Christian" (initially because he was a complete stranger who happened to be Christian, and later as a term of endearment). Azeem addresses the rest of the (presumably Christian) cast normally.
* In ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'', Bowen calls the dragon "Dragon" mainly for lack of anything else to call him. Eventually, Dragon gets tired of it, and declares he has a name, but admits that Bowen would never be able to pronounce it. Later, Bowen decides to call him Draco instead, basically calling him Dragon in another language. Draco points out the irony, but decides to go along with it.
* Discussed in detail in ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'', where King Arthur calls a peasant "Old Man," and then "Man" when he points out that he isn't old, before the peasant says Arthur should call him Dennis.
-->'''Arthur:''' Old woman!\\
'''Dennis:''' Man!\\
'''Arthur:''' Old man, sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?\\
'''Dennis:''' I'm 37.\\
'''Arthur:''' What?\\
'''Dennis:''' I'm 37 -- I'm not old!\\
'''Arthur:''' Well, I can't just call you 'Man.'\\
'''Dennis:''' Well, you could say 'Dennis.'\\
'''Arthur:''' Well, I didn't know you were called 'Dennis.'\\
'''Dennis:''' Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?
* The villainous Steel often calls the titular ''WesternAnimation/{{Balto}}'' "wolf-dog" to his face, to disparage Balto's mixed parentage.
* The arrogant and pretentious Cat R Waul knows Fievel Mousekewicz's name in ''WesternAnimation/FievelGoesWest'', but calls him "mouse" to emphasize his FantasticRacism that mice are hopelessly inferior to cats.
-->'''Cat R Waul:''' Listen, mouse: ''I'' am the law here, and ''you'' are a mere ''hors d'oeuvre''.
* In ''Film/{{Babe}}'', the farmer never calls Babe anything other than "pig." Since the animals are only intelligible to each other, the farmer doesn't know his 'real' name.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

* In an early episode of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Chakotay is captured by a group of Kazon, one of whom has to [[ARealManIsAKiller kill someone to become a man]]. The youngster refers to Chakotay as "Starfleet" to dehumanize (or rather, de-sentient-being-ize) him in his own mind, and/or to show Chakotay and by extension the Starfleet crew contempt. Chakotay threw it back in his face, calling him "Kazon" to show he's not being intimidated.
** In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Neelix calls everyone by their rank and last name except Tuvok, whom he calls "Mr. Vulcan" after a conversation following their meeting. Being unfamiliar with the customs, it is reasonable to assume that Neelix took "I am Vulcan" to mean "my name is Vulcan." He continued to call Tuvok "Mr. Vulcan" even after he [Neelix] would have been corrected, likely as a private joke between the two of them that only Neelix finds funny.
-->'''Neelix:''' Astonishing! You Federations are obviously an advanced culture.\\
'''Tuvok:''' The Federation is made up of many cultures. I am Vulcan.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': In the episode "Soul Hunter", the Soul Hunter is in Medlab when the Minbari Ambassador comes to see him, "What do you want, Minbari?" Shortly after he recognizes her as Delenn of the Grey Council, after which he refers to her as such.
* ''{{Series/StargateSG1}}'': In a running gag, Master Bra'tac refuses to call Jack O'Neill by his name, preferring to call him "Human." It's implied to be an in-joke between them.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Friday's Child" has a Klingon character named Kras. Kirk calls him "Klingon" twice, Maab calls him "Klingon" six separate times and Eleen calls him "Klingon" once. This is because Kras' real name is never spoken during the episode. The only way the viewer learns it is by reading the end credits.
* Occurs in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Tapestries", when an arrogant Nausicaan challenges a known and skilled Starfleet cadet to "Play dom-jot, hu-man."

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': [[OurElvesAreDifferent Legolas]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Gimli]] regularly refer to one another as "Elf" and "Dwarf" respectively. As the story goes on, the use of these evolves from [[FantasticRacism derisive]], to [[TheRival respectful]], to [[TrueCompanions terms of endearment]].
* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'': Elves, and to a lesser extent other races, refer to humans as "dh'oine", which is simply "Human" in the Elder Language. The Scoia'tael in particular use it as a borderline insult.
* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'': There is actually fairy etiquette about this, a bit like NWordPrivileges. Calling someone by their species name is only acceptable if you're good friends, else it's insulting. Most fairies do call all humans 'human' though, when they don't call them [[CallAHumanAMeatbag Mudmen]], that is.
** In ''Artemis Fowl'', Ark Sool refers to Foaly as "centaur" which Foaly notes is insulting to do [[NWordPrivileges unless between friends]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Common in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''; NPC's will usually address the player as their race (tauren, orc, night elf, etc) or character class (warrior, mage, hunter, etc), unless there's an in-story reason for the NPC to know the player's name. unlike most examples of this trope, it's not generally meant to be derogatory.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the executioner at the beginning of the game calls the player character by their race name (or equivalent FantasticSlur) when calling them to the chopping block. When playing as a [[GameMod custom race]], though, she remains silent.
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' has a few instances of this, although they aren't always voiced (especially with races added in the expansions). For example, the encounter where you acquire Khelgar Ironfist as a party member has a couple of thugs derisively tell you (for instance) "This doesn't concern you, half-elf."
* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': When not using Kratos's actual name, everyone, including ''gods'', call him simply "Spartan" (well, except his soldiers, who are Spartan as well). [[TheWikiRule The series wiki]] even lists Spartan as one of his aliases. The gods also sometimes call Kratos "mortal", [[spoiler:even after he's technically become a god]], and this one is used more as an insult.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomic ]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Vaarsuvius refers to Belkar as "the halfling". This is less because of any general contempt for other races and mostly because it's [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]]; Roy, Haley, and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Durkon]] are "Sir Greenhilt", "Miss Starshine" and "Master Thundershield" respectively (Elan has OnlyOneName, but sometimes just gets called "the bard"). Belkar has also been known to refer to Vaarsuvius as "elf".
* ''Webcomic/LookingForGroup'': Characters have taken to calling Cale "Elf", and Krunch "Bloodrage". For Cale this is generally used by the main characters so that they speak with extra authority when they're about to lecture him for being naive. For Krunch's case it's mostly used by strangers and acquaintances, and is probably meant to be overtly racist.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* {{Discussed}} in ''WebVideo/CounterMonkey'', "Dungeon Mastering a Great Game". Spoony is a big fan of roleplaying and doesn't like when players address each other by race or [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep profession]] as in, "Elf, go identify that magic item," and "Thief, go pick that lock." He discusses causes for it and how you can avoid it in your TabletopRPG session.
* The Dwarf, Elf, and Ogre from ''Franchise/LeDonjonDeNaheulbeuk''. Other party members are called by their classes (Barbarian, Bard, Enchantress, Ranger, Thief).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', Master Shifu usually refers to Po as "Panda". FridgeBrilliance implies that his other students, who seem to be examples of ADogNamedDog, might originally have had other names, but since Shifu always referred to them by their species, they started using those as their names.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'', the dinosaurs have proper names as shown by the main characters, yet the adults never seem to have their names revealed. That doesn't stop [[CoolOldGuy Little Foot's grandfather]] and [[OverprotectiveDad Cera's dad]] from referring to each other as Three-Horn and Long-Neck, respectively, whenever they talk to each other, though.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "The Jihad".
** First, Lara does it to Spock:
--->'''[=EM3GREEN=]:''' We'll all die here.\\
'''Spock:''' A statistical probability.\\
'''Lara:''' You ever quote anything besides statistics, Vulcan?\\
'''Spock''' Yes. But philosophy and poetry are not appropriate here.
** And then Sord does it as well.
--->'''Spock:''' Sord, what did you think you saw back there?\\
'''Sord:''' Don't know, Vulcan. A shape, couldn't really make it out. Probably seeing things, like Kirk figures.

[[/folder]]
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[[folder: Web Video ]]

-->'''Arthur:''' Old woman!
-->'''Dennis:''' Man!
-->'''Arthur:''' Old man, sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?
-->'''Dennis:''' I'm 37.
-->'''Arthur:''' What?
-->'''Dennis:''' I'm 37 -- I'm not old!
-->'''Arthur:''' Well, I can't just call you 'Man.'
-->'''Dennis:''' Well, you could say 'Dennis.'
-->'''Arthur:''' Well, I didn't know you were called 'Dennis.'
-->'''Dennis:''' Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?

-->Listen, mouse: ''I'' am the law here, and ''you'' are a mere ''hors d'oeuvre''.

-->'''Neelix:''' Astonishing! You Federations are obviously an advanced culture.
-->'''Tuvok:''' The Federation is made up of many cultures. I am Vulcan.

-->'''[=EM3GREEN=]:''' We'll all die here.
-->'''Spock:''' A statistical probability.
-->'''Lara:''' You ever quote anything besides statistics, Vulcan?
-->'''Spock''' Yes. But philosophy and poetry are not appropriate here.

-->'''Spock:''' Sord, what did you think you saw back there?
-->'''Sord:''' Don't know, Vulcan. A shape, couldn't really make it out. Probably seeing things, like Kirk figures.

Some characters know each other enough to speak on a FirstNameBasis. Other times the setting calls for a more formal LastNameBasis.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomic}}]]

[[AC: WebVideo]]

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

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See also FirstNameBasis, and LastNameBasis. Related to HeyYou. Compare EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep when this is done with professions rather than race, and NWordPrivileges where a certain term (normally those found in RealLife) is "derogatory without permission". If doing this doubles as FirstNameBasis then you're probably on a PlanetOfSteves.

* In ''Manga/DragonBall'' Vegeta routinely called Piccolo 'Namek' in the English dub, interchangeable with Namekian as even Piccolo describes himself as 'a Namek' to others.

[[AC: Film]]

* Downplayed in ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'', where Azeem calls Robin "Christian" (initially because he was a complete stranger who happened to be Christian, and later as a term of endearment). He addresses the rest of the (presumably Christian) cast normally.
* In ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'', Bowen calls the dragon "Dragon" mainly for lack of anything else to call him. Eventually, he gets tired of it, and declares he has a name, but admits that Bowen would never be able to pronounce it. Later, Bowen decides to call him Draco instead, basically calling him Dragon in another language. Draco points out the irony, but decides to go along with it.

-->ARTHUR: Old woman!
-->DENNIS: Man!
-->ARTHUR: Old Man, sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?
-->DENNIS: I'm thirty seven.
-->ARTHUR: What?
-->DENNIS: I'm thirty seven -- I'm not old!
-->ARTHUR: Well, I can't just call you 'Man.'
-->DENNIS: Well, you could say 'Dennis.'
-->ARTHUR: Well, I didn't know you were called 'Dennis.'
-->DENNIS: Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?

-->Listen, mouse: ''I'' am the law here, and ''you'' are a mere hors d'oeuvre.
* In ''Film/{{Babe}}'' the farmer never calls Babe anything other than "pig." Since the animals are only intelligible to each other, the farmer doesn't know his 'real' name.

* In an early episode of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' Chakotay is captured by a group of Kazon, one of whom has to [[ARealManIsAKiller kill someone to become a man]]. The youngster refers to Chakotay as "Starfleet" to dehumanize (or rather, de-sentient-being-ize) him in his own mind, and/or to show Chakotay and by extension the Starfleet crew contempt. Chakotay threw it back in his face, calling him "Kazon" to show he's not being intimidated.
** In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' Neelix calls everyone by their rank & last name except Tuvok, whom he calls "Mr. Vulcan" after a conversation following their meeting. Being unfamiliar with the customs, it is reasonable to assume that Neelix took "I am Vulcan" to mean "my name is Vulcan." He continued to call him "Mr. Vulcan" even afte he would have been corrected, likely as a private joke between the two of them that only he finds funny.
--> '''NEELIX''': Astonishing! You Federations are obviously an advanced culture.
--> '''TUVOK''': The Federation is made up of many cultures. I am Vulcan.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Friday's Child" has a Klingon character named Kras. Kirk calls him "Klingon" twice, Maab calls him "Klingon" six separate times and Eleen calls him "Klingon" once. This is because his real name is never spoken during the episode. The only way the viewer learns it is by reading the end credits.
* Occurs in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Tapestries," when an arrogant Nausicaan challenges a known and skilled Starfleet cadet to "Play dom-jot, hu-man."


[[AC:Literature]]

* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'': Elves, and to a lesser extent other races, refer to humans as "dh'oine", which is simply "Human" in the Elder Language. The Scoia'tael in particular use it as a border-line insult.
* {{Literature/ArtemisFowl}}: There is actually fairy etiquette about this, a bit like NWordPrivileges. Calling someone by their species name is only acceptable if you're good friends, else it's insulting. Most fairies do call all humans 'human' though, when they don't call them [[CallAHumanAMeatbag Mudmen]], that is.
* In ''ArtemisFowl'' Ark Sool refers to Foaly as "centaur" which Foaly notes is insulting to do [[NWordPrivileges unless between friends]].

[[AC: WebComic]]

* {{Discussed}} in WebVideo/CounterMonkey, "Dungeon Mastering a Great Game". Spoony is a big fan of roleplaying and doesn't like when players address each other by race or [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep profession]], "Elf, go identify that magic item" and "Thief, go pick that lock". He discusses causes for it and how you can avoid it in your TabletopRPG session.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'', the dinosaurs have proper names as shown by the main characters, yet the adults never seem to have their names revealed. That doesn't stop [[CoolOldGuy Little Foot's Grandfather]] and [[OverprotectiveDad Cera's dad]] from referring to each other as Three-Horn and Long-Neck respectively whenever they talk to each other though.

** First Lara does it to Spock:
-->'''[=EM3GREEN=]''': We'll all die here.
-->'''Spock''': A statistical probability.
-->'''Lara''': You ever quote anything besides statistics, Vulcan?
-->'''Spock''': Yes. But philosophy and poetry are not appropriate here.

-->'''Spock''': Sord, what did you think you saw back there?
-->'''Sord''': Don't know, Vulcan. A shape, couldn't really make it out. Probably seeing things, like Kirk figures.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim", the executioner at the beginning of the game calls the player character by their race name (or equivalent FantasticSlur) when calling them to the chopping block. When playing as a [[GameMod custom race]], though, she remains silent.