# twat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637 "2018-04-02T13:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/1 "2018-04-02T13:35:37Z")
I’ve almost exclusively encountered this word in written form, not spoken aloud. I have always assumed that the pronunciation rhymed with “cat.” But while watching an episode of The Leftovers a couple of days ago a character used it and pronounced it rhyming with “cot.” And I seem to recall a thread here a while back mentioning the “twot” pronunciation. So which is the proper way of saying it? If ever faced with the need to scream “twat” at someone, I don’t want to risk embarrassing myself. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/2 "2018-04-02T13:44:08Z")
IME “cat” is more of a British pronunciation, “cot” would be American. cite: George Carlin, 1972 album “Class Clown” pronounces twat to rhyme with “cot” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/3 "2018-04-02T13:44:10Z")
All my Brit buddies say twot, it is fine by me to say it either way sort of a tomayto tomahto thing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/4 "2018-04-02T13:44:15Z")
Don’t know if I’ve ever had cause to say it, but having heard it on several occasions, the ‘t-wat’ rhyming with cot is the usually accepted version. IMHO as always. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/5 "2018-04-02T13:45:58Z")
I too do not recall hearing it spoken if at all but my reading pronunciation rhymes with “cot”. It didn’t even cross my mind that it might rhyme with “cat”. If I said it I’d definitely match The Leftovers’ pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/6 "2018-04-02T13:47:06Z")
In England where it is fairly common, it rhymes with ‘cat’. I have heard about the, rarer, American ‘twot’ pronunciation, however. I suggest you check the nationality of the person you’re screaming it at first, to ensure you get it correct. After all, you wouldn’t want them to get offended. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/7 "2018-04-02T13:52:12Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > I suggest you check the nationality of the person you’re screaming it at first, to ensure you get it correct. After all, you wouldn’t want them to get offended. What a buzzkill to find yourself properly positioned to lob a soul-stinging “twat” at someone only to have them wrinkle up their nose and mock you for mispronouncing the insult. It would bother me, anyway. I’d probably start crying. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/8 "2018-04-02T13:53:57Z")
“Actually, I think you’ll find I’m a _twat_.” _mean kids in background snigger, high five_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/9 "2018-04-02T13:56:36Z")
Same sound as in [Twotter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGzxa6SZKnQ). ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/10 "2018-04-02T13:56:51Z")
TWA had great TWA tea. Best in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/11 "2018-04-02T14:01:55Z")
I’m too polite for twat. I use the word twad, which rhymes with cod. Mostly, I use it on my cat. “Tippy! You little twad! Get out of the sink!” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/12 "2018-04-02T14:09:24Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > TWA had great TWA tea. Best in the sky. Two things…Firstly in the UK the overwhelming majority rhyme it with “cat” Secondly, I have fond memories of TWA sponsoring a football match and seeing their name splashed boldly across every hoarding around the pitch in an unbroken line…TWATWATWATWATWATWATWATWATWA very funny, and remained so for the whole of the game. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/13 "2018-04-02T14:43:37Z")
I’ve pretty much only heard it as “twat” (to rhyme with “cat”) in the UK, although I had an Indian roommate from Hong Kong with a lovely posh British accent, and my memories of her have it perhaps closer to “twot.” Not quite as strong as the “ah” type sound you get in my dialect of American English for “hot,” but something a bit “softer”. (Basically, I’m trying to describe /ɑ/ vs /ɒ/). ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/14 "2018-04-02T15:02:51Z")
Nth that it’s far more commonly pronounced to rhyme with cat in the UK. Dr John Cooper Clarke agrees: [Twat](http://johncooperclarke.com/poems/twat) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/15 "2018-04-02T15:05:39Z")
[Previous thread on the matter with poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=673574) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/16 "2018-04-02T15:21:54Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > TWA had great TWA tea. Best in the sky. In first or second grade, someone asked me if I was on an airplane and the stewardess (that’s what they were called back then) asked if I wanted TWA coffee, TWA milk, or TWA tea, which would I want. Went right over my head at the time. Why does Dr Pepper come in a bottle? Because his wife died. Didn’t get that one either.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/17 "2018-04-02T15:28:52Z")
It rhymes with cat, as demonstrated by Alan Partridge in his [soccer football commentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhlx43rTs2Q). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/18 "2018-04-02T15:34:04Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > TWA had great TWA tea. Best in the sky. By the way, St. Louis was TWA’s headquarters back in the 1980’s. We pronounced it “twah” (rhymes with cot.) ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/19 "2018-04-02T15:38:01Z")
Either is fine. I go with twat because I feel you can be more emphatic. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637/20 "2018-04-02T15:43:01Z")
Funny, I have heard it almost exclusively spoken and rarely in print. Maybe I need to read seamier stuff. 😉 Anyway, I would have said it rhymes with “swat”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twat/811637.md?page=2)