Fun fact: "pleb"/"plebian" has similarities to "Prolet"/"Proletarier" in German:
"Prolet" is a social slur with similar implications as "pleb" (when used as an insult): unsophisticated, unskilled, bottom feeder, likely unemployed living off welfare and drunk.
"Proletarier" OTOH simply means "proletarian", i.e. a worker. It's not used in colloquial language but historically occurred in politics (for obvious reasons) and still pops up in some contexts.
While "Prolet" is entirely derogatory, "Proletarier" is either neutral or positive.
While the English "plebian" seems to date back to Roman times, AFAICT the German "Proletarier" is relatively recent (i.e. early communist era).
"Prolet" is a social slur with similar implications as "pleb" (when used as an insult): unsophisticated, unskilled, bottom feeder, likely unemployed living off welfare and drunk.
"Proletarier" OTOH simply means "proletarian", i.e. a worker. It's not used in colloquial language but historically occurred in politics (for obvious reasons) and still pops up in some contexts.
While "Prolet" is entirely derogatory, "Proletarier" is either neutral or positive.
While the English "plebian" seems to date back to Roman times, AFAICT the German "Proletarier" is relatively recent (i.e. early communist era).