# Most offensive words in English speaking countries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273 "2006-12-15T13:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/21 "2006-12-16T23:04:46Z")
[QUOTE=Team of Scientists] Racial epithets aside, I think cunt takes the cake in America. Most girls, IME, don’t even want to hear the word, let alone be called one. [/QUOTE] I agree. I am cringing just reading it. I’d put it up there with the “n” word with about as ghastly one can get. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/22 "2006-12-17T04:12:34Z")
I’ve always found the word twat to be more silly than offensive. I’d say nigger is the most offensive word in American culture. Some people literally cannot bring themselves to speak or write the word even in a situation like this where it’s being discussed rather than used. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/23 "2006-12-17T05:26:49Z")
“Twat” isn’t so bad, but I dislike “cunt” and “nigger.” ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/24 "2006-12-17T07:17:24Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I’ve always found the word twat to be more silly than offensive. I’d say nigger is the most offensive word in American culture. Some people literally cannot bring themselves to speak or write the word even in a situation like this where it’s being discussed rather than used. [/QUOTE] Christopher Hitchens mentioned that he got the bum’s rush during the commercial break on a talk show because [he used it.](http://www.slate.com/id/2154854/) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/25 "2006-12-17T08:01:09Z")
I’ve always felt “the n-word” is ridiculous. If you’re actually using the word nigger then you’re a racist and/or some other form of idiot and you should stop. But if you’re discussing the word nigger (as in my previous post) then it’s foolish to avoid mentioning the word. The word itself doesn’t have magical powers - you won’t summon Richard Pryor’s ghost just because you utter it. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/26 "2006-12-17T08:47:04Z")
[QUOTE=Bippy the Beardless] One of the most offensive phraises in England is “Manchester United Supporter” Wanker in England is a bit like “son of a bitch” it can be used for anything from friendly banter, to grave insult, depending on intonation and the relationship between curser and cursee. [/QUOTE] Indeed it is. Call a Manchester City supporter that and you can expect a sound twatting ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/27 "2006-12-17T10:04:30Z")
Originally Posted by flight Twat: Worst word I can think of in English [QUOTE=Martha] Not in the UK - it’s only borderline offensive. [/QUOTE] It’s more offensive in the north of England, particularly Yorkshire, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/28 "2006-12-17T10:23:29Z")
Tosser, wanker, arsehole, plonker, dickhead or twat are generally used (in the UK) to indicate that the subject is a bit stupid. You can say: 'don’t be a \_\_\_\_\_\_ ’ in a friendly way, but used for a 3rd party it is generally dismissive - and often an accurate description of the person. In the UK it is possible to be creatively insulting, but to most people I know the words are not innately offensive. Excessive use of them is a bit boring, mainly because it is a sign of a poor vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/29 "2006-12-17T10:59:29Z")
In all honesty I feel that in the UK swear words are used in so many ways they have lost most if not all impact. On the other hand I wouldn’t call a pissed up stranger in a pub a twat 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/30 "2006-12-17T16:23:17Z")
All of your list is only true for certain groups, many other social groups would be offended. I think most people would consider those a passable offensive words if it slipped out in a conversation, but won’t want to be around you if used on a regular bases. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/31 "2006-12-17T18:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=Boulter’s Canary] Originally Posted by flight Twat: Worst word I can think of in English It’s more offensive in the north of England, particularly Yorkshire, for some reason. [/QUOTE] The OP specified \*\*English-speaking \*\* countries. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/32 "2006-12-17T19:19:38Z")
I think its how the words are stressed that change the meanings, as a previous poster said calling someone a daft or hard cunt with no emphasis on the “c” is just an informal word for “man” When used with “A piece of” (always by men )it is a demeaning and derogatory term for women used by the ignorant or wanna be hard man. Using it in its biological sense IS very offensive though not usually meant as an insult,but when the “c” and the “t” is emphasised as in “you CunT” mostly by men at men ,it is the single worse expression of hatred and contempt that I can think of in British English. I think probably next in line is Fucking Bastard ,though used seperately both words are considered innocc.uos ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/33 "2006-12-18T07:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] Eugh. My brain knows how to spell Wollongong, but my fingers never do. [/QUOTE] Wooloomooloo is harder. 😃 But to your comment, you never in the US hear anybody called “feral” and yet I find here that that can be either very mildly bantering/offensive to downright rude. Cheers, G ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/34 "2006-12-18T10:51:04Z")
[QUOTE=Gleena] Wooloomooloo is harder. 😃 But to your comment, you never in the US hear anybody called “feral” and yet I find here that that can be either very mildly bantering/offensive to downright rude. Cheers, G [/QUOTE] ‘Ferals’ are bush symbiotes from the city - not black fellas, but typically rich kids who went bad. . . . . . Sort of like neocons in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/35 "2006-12-18T17:12:29Z")
Quebec French has its own set of curse words, but some English curse words are also used, notably ‘fuck’. But since our first language isn’t English, we often don’t fully understand the implications of these English words. ‘Fuck’ happens to be a good example. I have an uncle who got into trouble for saying ‘fuck you’ to his English teacher in high school. To him it was just swearing, but she understood the sexual connotation of the phrase. As for ‘nigger’, I never hear this word, but to me it’s just an ethnic slur, probably not any worse than ‘frog’. To Americans it’s probably the worse word that exists in their vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/36 "2006-12-19T11:38:15Z")
[QUOTE=antechinus] ‘Ferals’ are bush symbiotes from the city - not black fellas, but typically rich kids who went bad. . . . . . Sort of like neocons in the US. [/QUOTE] HAH! Then I’m misusing feral, as I use it usually to refer to my husbad after I’ve been away for a week (He’s gone feral, the house is wrecked and he’s out of clean underpants.) or to refer to the dreadlocked, herion-addicted weirdos that hang out on Newtown streets. Cheers, G ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/37 "2006-12-19T19:28:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Quebec French has its own set of curse words, but some English curse words are also used, notably ‘fuck’. But since our first language isn’t English, we often don’t fully understand the implications of these English words. ‘Fuck’ happens to be a good example. I have an uncle who got into trouble for saying ‘fuck you’ to his English teacher in high school. To him it was just swearing, but she understood the sexual connotation of the phrase. > > As for ‘nigger’, I never hear this word, but to me it’s just an ethnic slur, probably not any worse than ‘frog’. To Americans it’s probably the worse word that exists in their vocabulary. It works both ways. I’ve seen Americans use the word “frog” to refer to something French in Canada and not understand that some people there take this as very offensive. To Americans, it’s as mild as calling an Englishman a “limey” (and is that word seriously offensive in the UK or elsewhere?). ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/38 "2006-12-19T19:42:51Z")
“Twat” isn’t offensive in the UK? Since when? I’d put it on the same level as “cunt”. Calling a Northerner a southerner is also pretty offensive 😛 > [@](#): > > To Americans, it’s as mild as calling an Englishman a “limey” (and is that word seriously offensive in the UK or elsewhere?). No. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/39 "2006-12-19T22:20:56Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I’d say nigger is the most offensive word in American culture. Some people literally cannot bring themselves to speak or write the word even in a situation like this where it’s being discussed rather than used. [/QUOTE] Yes, I find it amazing that people give the word “nigger” such power as to not even say it when talking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-offensive-words-in-english-speaking-countries/384273/40 "2006-12-19T23:27:23Z")
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