# The four letter "B" word(s) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441 "2013-03-08T23:43:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/1 "2013-03-08T23:43:09Z")
This could be interesting… I have a list of all four digit combinations of alpha-numeric characters starting with the letter B (Characters are all upper case and no special characters). These will be used as identifiers for “products” that my company will be representing. Although they are not part of the name of the product, they will be referenced when selecting the product. My company is global with products located around the world, but the company is headquartered in the US. It is a very family friendly company for the most part. My challenge is identifying any of these 4 digit combos that could be considered offensive in any of our markets. Things like BOOB, and any variation using zeros instead of O’s would be restricted. I’m not too worried about other character/number substitutions so we don’t need to get all leet speak here. I’m also going to weed out things with any three letter words that could raise an eyebrow like BSEX, BFUK, and BGAY (that one we may selectively assign as we do have gay specific products, but wouldn’t want to randomly assign… I’m also restricting BGOD). Even things like BOZO may be restricted… even though it isn’t offensive, someone may not want their product referred to in a less than flattering way (these “products” are owned by other big companies so we have to be careful). As I said, we are global so I need to consider things that may be offensive elsewhere that wouldn’t be considered so in the US. For example I think BINT is considered offensive in the UK but wouldn’t in the US. I’ve come up with about 40 already, but I need your help. If you can think of any 4 letter B words you wouldn’t find appropriate (or think your grandma may not) please put them here. If they are regional please let me know where and what they mean as I will have to explain them to a VP (that should be a fun meeting). You don’t need to explain the obvious as I know what a BUTT is and can figure out BTCH. Thanks guys… if ever there was a better use for the creative and perverted minds of the dope I’ve not seen it. ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/2 "2013-03-08T23:50:29Z")
BLOW could be offensive to some and you may want to avoid BOMB for obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/3 "2013-03-09T00:00:58Z")
BONR BABE BALZ BREW BASH BAUD and you might want to check out this list [http://www.wordbyletter.com/words\_starting\_with.php?q=b&letters=4](http://www.wordbyletter.com/words_starting_with.php?q=b&letters=4) ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/4 "2013-03-09T00:14:05Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > BAUD What is BAUD other than a data transfer rate? ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/5 "2013-03-09T00:23:05Z")
Bong bonk ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/6 "2013-03-09T00:24:35Z")
Sorry, I meant BAWD. ---
**Author:** ![Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hero_From_Sector_7G)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/7 "2013-03-09T00:28:57Z")
I consider Bing to be a dirty word. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/8 "2013-03-09T00:43:05Z")
Why not restrict your product ID codes to just the letter B followed by three digits, and just not use other letters at all? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/9 "2013-03-09T00:49:03Z")
Wouldn’t worry about ‘bint’, sounds to me like something Oliver Twist would say. For the UK you might want to avoid BGGR (bugger; mild profanity literally meaning to sodomise), maybe BLLK (bollock, testicle). BUMS might be one to avoid, juvenile term for arses, don’t know if you use it over there. BIXN apparently means ‘vagina’ in Austria. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/10 "2013-03-09T00:52:16Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Why not restrict your product ID codes to just the letter B followed by three digits, and just not use other letters at all? Because we have over 20,000 products that need the B designation… we’ve already used B000-BZ99 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/11 "2013-03-09T00:55:13Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I know what a BUTT is and can figure out BTCH. Did you figure out BICH? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/12 "2013-03-09T00:58:18Z")
Depending on how anal (har har) you need to get you might also avoid anything that evokes ‘bummer’ like BMMR, BUMR, derogatory slang for a homosexual. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/13 "2013-03-09T01:03:46Z")
Anything that brings to mind the word “beaver”: BEVR BVRR BVER BEAV BEEV ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/14 "2013-03-09T01:06:46Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Wouldn’t worry about ‘bint’, sounds to me like something Oliver Twist would say. That’s good to know… I just remember someone saying “that stupid bint.” I wouldn’t find it at all upsetting, but thought others may. I’ll probably make some fully restricted, and others “assign with discretion.” This is a leisure travel product so someplace that is a spring break beach product may not mind getting BABE, and something in New Orleans or Las Vegas may not mind BAWD. The majority though will want to avoid any raised eyebrows. So, what about BUFU? It was used by a group of people I knew in the late 70’s, early 80’s as an insult saying someone was his “BUFU Buddy” meaning his “Butt F\*\*k” partner. I haven’t heard it since and have no idea if it has that connotation to anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/15 "2013-03-09T01:37:21Z")
BERK is a (mild) insult in the UK, meaning something like _fool._ BINT is a rather dated British slang word for a young woman, something like “chick” in America. I doubt if many people still use it, but older people here might remember it, and some might find it inappropriate. Could you simplify your task by not using any vowels? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/16 "2013-03-09T01:40:55Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Did you figure out BICH? But “bich” is Latin for “generosity!” ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/17 "2013-03-09T02:18:07Z")
BJOB :o Ethnic sounding combinations like BNIG BJAP BJEW BGYP BWOP. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/18 "2013-03-09T02:44:33Z")
BGAS (I actually saw that on a vanity license plate several years ago (in mASS.) ---
**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:** [March 9, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-four-letter-b-word-s/652441/19 "2013-03-09T06:50:21Z")
A [website](http://www.youswear.com/) for looking up swear words in other languages.