# Teach me to swear in other languages. Part 1: Interjections
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 28, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225 "2019-06-28T17:02:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/1 "2019-06-28T17:02:17Z")
Obviously, this thread will contain coarse, uncouth, and foul language.
I woke up this morning, jumped out of bed, and my right calf _immediately_ cramped. After yelling out, “FUCK,” and rousing my wife, I worked out the cramp and went downstairs to make the coffee. While waiting for my morning elixir, I realized that I don’t know a comparable word or phrase in any other language (except, “scheisse,” in German, but I don’t know if that word is comparably strong).
So, Dopers, will you teach me to exclaim with profanity in other languages? Let’s start with interjections/exclamations. What would you cry out after stepping on a Lego or stubbing your toe in the middle of the night? Explanations of proper usage, pronunciation guides or links, translations, and interesting trivia are all welcome additions (particularly pronunciations, and especially if they are from outside of German or the common Romance languages).
I think Part 2 will cover, “asshole,” and other words to describe every driver but you.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/2 "2019-06-28T17:40:53Z")
Merde! (Shit, in French)
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/3 "2019-06-28T18:04:27Z")
uckfay! (fuck in pig latin)
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### Author:  [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/4 "2019-06-28T18:34:12Z")
Shazbat! (Orkan)
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/5 "2019-06-28T18:55:46Z")
UK English. “Bollocks” is very versatile. A bit milder than fuck, but still can be used as an interjection, exclamation, or indeed, an ejaculation.
Typical use might be for a slighter inconvenience than cramp (which would also require a “fuck”, or more likely a “fucking hell”) such as dropping the last piece of toast on the floor; this would warrant an “oh, bollocks”.
It can also be used to indicate nonsense or balderdash ie “What a load of [old] bollocks”, or simply “BOLLOCKS”
Conversely, it can be pressed into use as a compliment ie “Those shoes are the [dog’s] bollocks”. Absolutely key here is “the”. “Man City were bollocks this season” and “Man City were **the** bollocks this season”… two _very_ different sentences.
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### Author:  [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/6 "2019-06-28T19:05:13Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Merde! (Shit, in French)
_Putain !_ works, too. Literally it means “whore” but it’s also used as an all-purpose interjection when things don’t go your way.
You can also make garlands of profanities like _Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d’enculé de ta mère_. But only when you’re really peeved.
[Here’s one encountered in the wild.](https://youtu.be/Ej06XVL_wTY?t=52)
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/7 "2019-06-28T19:25:10Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#):
>
> _Putain !_ works, too. Literally it means “whore” but it’s also used as an all-purpose interjection when things don’t go your way.
>
> You can also make garlands of profanities like _Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d’enculé de ta mère_. But only when you’re really peeved.
>
> [Here’s one encountered in the wild.](https://youtu.be/Ej06XVL_wTY?t=52)
In Germany, the Bavarians are most creative with swear words. \*Himmelherrgottsakramentzefixhallelujascheissglumpatverreckts \*is the longest I’ve heard of.
But for daily use, fuck!=Scheiße! and asshole=Arschloch are sufficient.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/8 "2019-06-28T19:34:37Z")
In Panama, the most common swear words include:
_¡Coño!_ (technically means “cunt,” but is much softer than that in American English) Used freely and commonly by both men and women.
_¡Carajo!_ (technically “dick,” but likewise softer.) Often _¡Ajo!_ (“garlic”) is substituted.
_¡Chucha!_ (also “cunt,” but has different meanings in other Spanish-speaking countries.) Often _¡Chuleta!_ (“pork chop”) is substituted, much to the confusion of people not familiar with the original word.
\*¡Mierda! \*(“shit”). Often _¡Miercoles!_ (Wednesday) is substituted.
_¡Puta madre!_ (“whore mother”)
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### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/9 "2019-06-28T19:38:17Z")
Italian: _che cazzo!_ “What the fuck?!?”
edit: “cazzo” is quite a flexible word.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/10 "2019-06-28T19:43:46Z")
I presume that “Puta Madre” is a profanity, rather than just an obscenity? That is to say, that it’s referring to Mary, but calling her a slut rather than a virgin?
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### Author:  [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/11 "2019-06-28T19:46:00Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#):
>
> _Putain !_ works, too. Literally it means “whore” but it’s also used as an all-purpose interjection when things don’t go your way.
>
> You can also make garlands of profanities like _Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d’enculé de ta mère_. But only when you’re really peeved.
>
> [Here’s one encountered in the wild.](https://youtu.be/Ej06XVL_wTY?t=52)
Also found in this parody (0:26) of “edgy” 1990s French [films](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KunHko803g4&list=RDKunHko803g4&start_radio=1) - you don’t need to speak French to get the point.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/12 "2019-06-28T20:21:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I presume that “Puta Madre” is a profanity, rather than just an obscenity? That is to say, that it’s referring to Mary, but calling her a slut rather than a virgin?
I don’t think so. It’s a generic mother. It’s like saying “motherfucker!” as an exclamation.
Confusingly, _de puta madre_ means “great, awesome,” like "That’s motherfucking _great_!
A more extended and classic version is quoted by Hemingway, _Me cago en la leche de tu puta madre!_, “I shit in the milk of your whore mother!”
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### Author:  [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/13 "2019-06-28T20:26:54Z")
Perkele is a Finnish universal swearword that is so useful even neighbouring nations have picked it up. You just can’t argue with that kind of utility.
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/14 "2019-06-28T20:29:05Z")
_Qu’vatlh_! in Klingon.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/15 "2019-06-28T20:32:06Z")
[Would Unca Cecil let you down?](https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-straight-dope/Content?oid=877517)
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/16 "2019-06-28T20:39:10Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> In Germany, the Bavarians are most creative with swear words. \*Himmelherrgottsakramentzefixhallelujascheissglumpatverreckts \*is the longest I’ve heard of.
>
> But for daily use, fuck!=Scheiße!
Leave off that last “e” and you get shit. Replace that last “e” with “kopf” and you get shithead.
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/17 "2019-06-28T21:08:01Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> Leave off that last “e” and you get shit. Replace that last “e” with “kopf” and you get shithead.
Well, “Scheiss” as in “Was ein Scheiss!” (“What a shit!”) is common, but nobody uses “Scheisskopf”, though everybody would understand the intention. A closer counterpart to “shithead” would be “Pappkopp”, though that’s regional (Westphalian mostly).
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/18 "2019-06-28T22:15:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> nobody uses “Scheisskopf”, though everybody would understand the intention.
Maybe it was more common in [the Sixties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheisskopf). 😉
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### Author:  [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/19 "2019-06-28T22:21:52Z")
Norwegian: “Faen!” (The devil) or “Helvete!” Hell.
Or you could go full bore: “Jævla, forbannede drittfaen!” “Damned, cursed shitdevil!”
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### Author:  [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225/20 "2019-06-28T22:56:26Z")
> [@naita](#):
>
> Norwegian: “Faen!” (The devil) or “Helvete!” Hell.
>
> Or you could go full bore: “Jævla, forbannede drittfaen!” “Damned, cursed shitdevil!”
…and that is why Northlanders stole _perkele_ from the Finns.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-to-swear-in-other-languages-part-1-interjections/836225.md?page=2)