MAAAAA, me encante el Limoncello!!!!!.
Just wondering...to a normal Dominican man ??? All my understanding of this word has been gained from DR1 only....
I know I am "late" to the party but let me "slap you into reality":
ALL Dominicans know what a Sankie is!!.
The one that say they don't know, it's because they are one themselves.
The ones that are offended, whether they are sankie or not, it's because to MOST Dominicans, Sankies are the scum of the earth.
MOST Dominicans DO NOT want to be associated with a Sankie, even if they had known the person all their lives. As soon as they find their friend because a Sankie, MOST WILL turn their backs on him/her.
Crap, even their own families, at the most part, wants NOTHING to do with them.
What is there to brag about?. They don't want their family and friends to know one in the family is a male/female hooker.
Even Sankies get annoyed when they are asked if they are Sankies. MOST even like to make believe they don't know what a Sankie is.
Why in hell admit to being the lowest of the lowlives in the DR?.
Sankies have a BAAAAD reputation in the DR and that's the reason ALL Sankies get annoyed or act stupid when you ask them if they are Sankies or if they know what a Sankie is.
So, to answer your question, YES "Sankie" is a very bad word in the DR, especially if the person you are asking is indeed a Sankie!!. Trust me, it's VEEEEERY offensive!!. MUCHO!.
Now, if you ask a respected and well educated Dominican if he/she is a Sankie, they will be more than offended, BIG TIME!!. Why?, because how dare you compare them to some scum of the earth!!!.
Ps: Where in hell is Margaret, my Limoncello drinking partner?. Hey darling, 5 people are missing you right now, including Mr. 'Limon', hahahahahahahaha!.