Offensive phrases in English. English swear words

This may be the raunchiest article you'll read on our blog, but if you want to understand how to swear (or rather, how not to swear) in English, then keep reading.

Swearing in every language is not just a sign of weakness and a bad habit, it is an expression of a wide variety of human emotions: anger, aggression, weakness, annoyance, disappointment, surprise and even delight.

I am sure that each of you understands what I mean we're talking about. And if, after accidentally spilling tea on a computer with a written diploma, you still have humble patience, then you must give it its due - your endurance can be envied.

How often do we come across curse words in a foreign language? Almost no film is complete without florid expressions, which sometimes quite accurately reflect the picture of what is happening. Now we are not talking about situations where the picture is filled with a stream of interjections, from which you want to hide in an empty room.

Mat is, first of all, a layer of vocabulary that you need to know in order not to use it. It may sound stupid, but there are people who study swearing and write dissertations on these topics. And they definitely have something to tell.

Precise, often short expressions, consisting mostly of 4 letters, are associated with sex or the natural needs of a person. In English, curse words are often called 4-letter words. With just one word f*ck you can find expressions that, when translated into Russian, take on a huge number of shades:

F*ck it!- To hell! Do not pay attention!
Who gives a f*ck- Who cares?
F*ck off- get off, go away, leave behind
F*ck up- fail, fail
F*ck somebody's mind– rinse the brain, brainwash, “open” the brain

Moreover, the word f*ck can be used as an adjective f*cking before any part of speech to give additional emotional coloring. Interestingly, the meaning of this f*cking may not always be negative. When meeting with beautiful girl“You are f*cking beautiful” may involuntarily escape your lips, and in such a situation it is not necessary to concentrate on the swear word.

When using such “eloquent” English words and expressions, be sure that you are doing it correctly, because even in such a familiar sphere there are certain rules use of vocabulary. So, for example, after question words (what, who, where, why, etc.) use f*ck may indicate a burning desire to know the answer to the question:

What the f*ck are you doing here?-What the hell are you doing here?
Who the f*ck are you?-Who are you anyway?

Please note that the meaning of swear words can be quite vague, so often such obscenity can pop up even where you would not expect it at all. Yes, the expression f*ck up can be translated completely neutrally - as “confusion” or “error”.

Certainly, f*ck- one of the most universal and common words, but do not think that there are no other words in the English language. Among the 4-letter words we can also highlight co*k, cu*t, sh*t. If you want to learn more about slang, check out Internet Slang Dictionary & Translator, The Free Dictionary, or Full of Stupid and Offensive Words

From time to time we have to enter into conflicts. In such cases, it can sometimes be very difficult not to utter a few curse words towards your opponent. For this purpose we will look at English swear words. They will allow you to scold someone as a joke or complain to your friends about the offenders, calling them all sorts of bad words :). Besides, suddenly someone calls you names in English, but you won’t understand if you don’t learn these words.

Here are some anti-compliment adjectives that will be useful to know even for the most non-conflicting and friendly people. After all, we can come across these words and phrases in movies, or use them to describe negative character traits of a person. Let's get started 😉

How to tell that a person is not brilliant

A bit thick

The word thick has several meanings. The main meaning of this word is thick, dense. But in informal English it can also be called name-calling - stupid. When you talk about a person being “a bit thick”, you are saying that he is a little dull/slightly dense.

A bit dense

This is a synonym for the previous expression. The word dense has the same meaning as thick. But in colloquial English it means “stupid”, “stupid”. A bit dense - slightly dull.

A total airhead

|ə ˈtəʊt(ə)l ˈɛːhɛd|

This expression means that a person has wind in his head instead of his brain. It can be translated as “complete fool.”

Not all there

|nɒt ɔːl ðɛː|

Perhaps one of the harshest expressions, since with it you are talking about the lack of a brain in a person. Not all there - “not everyone is at home” (but on English phrase sounds much ruder than in Russian).

A few bricks short of a full load

|ə fjuː brɪks ʃɔːt ɒv fʊl ləʊd|

This English idiom, which means that a person is stupid and “not at home.” The expression is often translated into Russian as “not everything is right in the head.” The literal translation is “a few bricks are missing to fully load.” You can also find this version of this expression: two bricks short of a load.

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer

|nɒt ðə ˈʃɑːpɪst nʌɪf ɪn ðə drɔː(r)|

Another idiom to describe a person who is not outstandingly intelligent. Literally it translates as “not the sharpest knife in drawer" It is translated into Russian as “not the smartest person” / “not particularly bright with intelligence” / “not the most savvy person.”

Thick as two short planks

|θɪk æz ˈtuː ʃɔːt plæŋks|

As we wrote above, in informal English thick means “stupid”. This expression means “dumb as two short boards.” The Russian equivalent is “dumb as firewood.”

Not academically gifted

|nɒt ˌækəˈdemɪkəli ˈɡɪftɪd|

Not academically gifted. This is a very subtle hint that a person’s mental abilities leave much to be desired.

Not the smartest...

|nɒt ðə ˈsmɑːtɪst|

A rather mild expression that translates as “not the smartest...”. After the word “smartest” we add who is not the smartest. For example: she’s not the smartese girl (she’s not the smartest girl), “he’s not the smartest teacher” (not the smartest teacher).

A dimwit

A very rude expression meaning "cretin"/"blockhead".

Other curse words

Let's look at other negative adjectives to describe not the best human qualities.

Let's start with words that, to one degree or another, describe each of us. After all, we all sometimes succumb to a lazy mood, are inattentive and unintentionally make mistakes for which we can be called stupid or reckless.

Laziness and frivolity in English

1. bone-idle l ˌbəʊnˈaɪdl - excessively lazy, “lazy to the core”;
2. careless |ˈkɛːləs| - frivolous; carefree; inattentive;
3. detached from life / reality |dɪˈtatʃt frɒm laɪf| - cut off from life (behind life);
4. foolish |ˈfuːlɪʃ| - stupid, foolish, reckless;
5. irresponsible |ɪrɪˈspɒnsɪb(ə)l| - irresponsible, unreliable;
6. mean |miːn| - mean, spiteful, bitchy, trashy;
7. silly |ˈsɪli| - silly. It is often used not when they say that a person is stupid in life, but when a person is stupid;
8. thoughtless |ˈθɔːtləs| - reckless; one who does something without thinking;
9. lazy |ˈleɪzi| - lazy.

To describe people who are too picky about others, like to criticize and command, you can use the following words:

1. aloof |əˈluːf| - an arrogant, “cold” uncommunicative person;
2. bossy |ˈbɒsi| - someone who likes to command;
3. cantankerous |kanˈtaŋk(ə)rəs| - picky, grumpy;
4. dogmatic |dɒɡˈmatɪk| - does not tolerate objections, arrogant;
5. finicky |ˈfɪnɪki| - pedantic; the one you can't please;
6. fussy |ˈfʌsi| - picky; can also mean “fussy”, “nervous”;
7. inflexible |ɪnˈflɛksɪb(ə)l| - inexorable, stubborn, not amenable to persuasion;
8. obsessive |əbˈsɛsɪv| - obsessed, obsessive
9. overcritical |ˈəʊvəˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l| - too picky; one who criticizes everything;
10. ruthless |ˈruːθləs| - ruthless, merciless, cruel.

Sometimes, in general, smart people, may in some situations behave thoughtlessly or tactlessly. To scold them for this behavior, you can wag your finger and call them names:

1. impulsive |ɪmˈpʌlsɪv| - impulsive; spontaneous;
2. inconsiderate |ɪnkənˈsɪd(ə)rət| - hasty, reckless;
3. rude |ruːd| - rude, ill-mannered, ignorant;
4. tactless |ˈtaktləs| - tactless;
5. unpredictable |ʌnprɪˈdɪktəb(ə)l| - unpredictable.

Sometimes a person seems to be smart, but is not distinguished by the depth of his thoughts. Then we can say about him:

1. superficial |ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃ(ə)l| - superficial, shallow (not thinking about serious or important things);
2. shallow |ˈʃaləʊ| — superficial, “dummy”;
3. narrow-minded |narəʊˈmʌɪndɪd| -with prejudices; preconceived; narrow-minded;
4. mediocre |ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə| - mediocre, mediocre thinker.

A person-thorn (of course, in the fifth point), annoying everyone and everything, can be called in the following words:

1. arrogant |ˈarəɡ(ə)nt| - arrogant;
2. bitchy |ˈbɪtʃi| - bitchy;
3. boring |ˈbɔːrɪŋ| - annoying, boring$
4. downer |ˈdaʊnə| - boring, eternal loser;
5. cruel |krʊəl| - cruel, heartless;
6. domineering |ˌdɒmɪˈnɪərɪŋ| - despotic, domineering, not allowing objections;
7. harsh |hɑːʃ| - harsh, rude;
8. impatient |ɪmˈpeɪʃ(ə)nt| - irritable, impatient;
9. nasty |ˈnɑːsti| - nasty, evil, nasty;
10. patronizing | - treating in a condescending, condescending manner;
11. quarrelsome |ˈkwɒr(ə)ls(ə)m| - grumpy, cocky;
12. pompous |ˈpɒmpəs| - pompous, full of conceit.

There are those who think only about their own benefit. At the same time, such people are capable of vile acts. About such individuals we can say:

1. deceitful |dɪˈsiːtfʊl| - insincere, deceitful;
2. greedy |ˈɡriːdi| - greedy, gluttonous;
3. impolite |ɪmpəˈlʌɪt| - rude, impolite, discourteous;
4. miserly |ˈmʌɪzəli| - stingy, stingy;
5. machiavellian |ˌmakɪəˈvɛlɪən| - unscrupulous, a person without principles;
6. materialistic |məˌtɪərɪəˈlɪstɪk| - materialist, mercantile
7. selfish |ˈsɛlfɪʃ| - selfish, selfish;
8. sneaky |ˈsniːki| - low, mean; cowardly; insignificant; cunning, sneaky
9. stingy |ˈstɪn(d)ʒi| - stingy, tight-fisted
10. truculent |ˈtrʌkjʊl(ə)nt| - cruel; sarcastic, corrupt;
11. acrimonious |ˌakrɪˈməʊnɪəs| - caustic, spewing bile, sarcastic;
12. untrustworthy |ʌnˈtrʌs(t)wəːði| - unreliable;
13. final | fɪˈneɪ.ɡəle| - manipulator, swindler (as a curse word). Attention! this word is purely colloquial.

Annoying character traits in English

And here are a few more words to describe people with annoying character traits:

1. compulsive |kəmˈpʌlsɪv| - an avid manic person;
2. stubborn |ˈstʌbən| - stubborn;
3. boastful |ˈbəʊstfʊl| - boastful;
4. quick-tempered |ˌkwɪkˈtɛmpəd| - hot-tempered, irritable;
5. perverse |pəˈvəːs| - spoiled, wayward;
6. resentful |rɪˈzɛntfʊl| - touchy, vindictive;
7. touchy |ˈtʌtʃi| - touchy, suspicious;
8. intolerant |ɪnˈtɒl(ə)r(ə)nt| - impatient;
9. pampered |ˈpæmpəd| - spoiled, pampered;
10. naughty |ˈnɔːti| - disobedient, harmful;
11. self-indulgent |ˌsɛlfɪnˈdʌldʒ(ə)nt| - self-indulgent;
12. cranky |ˈkraŋki| - capricious, incorrigible;
13. gushy |ˈɡʌʃi| - too sentimental.

Now you know adjectives to describe the negative qualities of a person. Break these English swear words into small groups and learn as you go free time. To help you remember words faster, think about the cases in which you could use them.

From a linguistic point of view (the so-called “healthy interest”), studying English swearing is a very exciting activity.
Words prohibited in public places, but most often used:

Using these words will not show your excellent education (if you start using them everywhere, proud of your vocabulary), but knowing them will help you navigate fluently in the translations of some songs (lyrics) when watching foreign films (for example, Californication, Sex and the city etc).
Based on research by British Broadcasting Television (BBC), the following words are the most swear words in the English language (at least to the British):
1. Cunt - a vagina
2. Motherfucker - someone you hate, made you very angry
3. Fuck - to intercourse
4. Wanker - someone who masturbates
5. Nigger - Afro-American
6. Bastard - a man who doesn’t have a known father
7. Prick - a penis
8. Bollocks - “You are lying!”
9. Arsehole - somebody who made you angry (mild)
10. Paki - a slang word for Pakistani
11. Shag - to fuck
12. Whore - a prostitute
13. Twat - a vagina
14. Piss off - making someone angry
15. Spastic - someone who has been clumsy
16. Slag - someone who is big, dumb, dirty
17. Shit - poop
18. Dickhead - someone who has done something very stupid
19. Ass - an ass
20. Bugger - someone who is like nose snot
21. Jew - Jewish
22. Sodding - motherfucking
23. Jesus Christ - when you are very frustrated
24. Crap - shit
25. Bloody - very bad
26. God - and expression of anger, frustration or surprise.

Bloody hell, Fucking hell, Bloody shit, Damn shit - to express irritation and indignation. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that often two swear words are used together. And in order to express it even more clearly, you can put many of the words listed above in one sentence and you will get a “three-story” swearing (of which the video will be an example George Carlin “Course word” at www.youtube.com).

Moreover, to express indignation at a particular object or person, it is enough to add an expletive to the usual word.
For example, fucking day or bloody day.
I can’t open the damn window - I can’t open this damn window!
Damned idiot - a moron, a complete idiot!

For a better understanding of situations and options for using English swearing, it is advisable to communicate with native speakers! At a foreign language school, you can politely ask a person whose native language is English to explain a word. In addition, he or she will tell you again that using such language is not advisable. A gentle explanation will help you better understand the meaning of many words.

Today we have an unusual lesson. And not even very decent. We'll touch on that section. English slang, which concerns various unflattering name-calling. This does not mean at all that we encourage you to commit any heinous things! Not at all. But since such a phenomenon exists in language, you should at least understand it.

It is worth noting that you are unlikely to encounter name-calling among decent, intelligent people. All this vocabulary, as a rule, is inherent in the manner of communication of children or teenagers.

So, let's begin!

If you heard the expression soap dodge, that means someone, sorry, hasn’t washed for a long time. The word soap means “soap”, and dodger is someone who dodges something. The expression soap dodger is translated into Russian with words such as “stinker”, “dirty”, etc. For example:

Get out of my cab you filthy soapdodger. “Get out of my car, stink.”

A synonym for soap dodge is the word minger, which means almost the same thing, i.e. "smelly man" In addition, this word can also be used to describe an ugly woman. For example:

Oh god, look at her – she’s a right minger! - God, look at her! What an ugly thing!

Word div means an undeveloped and frankly stupid person. Here's how this word can be used in speech:

Shut up, you div! - Shut up, you dumbass!

If you suddenly heard the word weirdo, then it means that there is something wrong with someone. Weirdo means “with oddities”, “with glitches”, “with perversions”, etc.

Betty is such a weirdo. – Betty has specific glitches.

If someone is desperately trying to do something, but is not doing well, then you can safely name such a person try hard. Especially if a person tries to do something that he is not capable of due to his mental or physical qualities. For example:

Look at Nick, he is such a try-hard interjecting in a conversation he knows nothing about. - Look at Nick! He goes out of his way to try to get a word into a conversation in which he knows nothing.

We often hear the following word in relation to those who wear glasses - “bespectacled”, in English - four eyes. Literally four eyes is translated as “four eyes”. For example:

Hey four eyes, what's that? - Hey, bespectacled guy, how are you?

Word loser Recently, it has become firmly established in the Russian language - loser, i.e. loser, unsuccessful person. For example:

You're a loser, I hate you. – You are a complete loser, I hate you.

Word loner denotes an unhappy person who has no friends. In Russian, the word “loner” is not derogatory. If we say that someone is a “loner,” we are simply stating a fact rather than trying to cause an insult. In English slang, the word loner carries a negative characteristic, because... if a person has no friends, then it means he is nothing of himself. For example:

He's such a loner. - He's a loner.

Word sad translated as “sad”, “pathetic” and is often used to enhance an already negative characteristic. For example:

You are a sad coward. -You are a pathetic coward.

Among children, when one calls another name, you can often hear the rhyme:

I'm rubber you are glue
whatever you say bounces off me
and sticks to you.

Literally it translates as follows: I am rubber, and you are glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you. The meaning of these words is clear - to take the insult away from yourself and redirect it to the offender. We, native speakers of Russian, in this case simply say “That’s how I am.”

If your interlocutor suddenly fell silent, and you are waiting for his words, you can ask Has cat got your toung? This question is a shortened version of Has the cat got your tongue? This phrase literally translates as “Did your tongue get eaten by a cat?” In Russian there is an expression “Have you swallowed your tongue?” For example:

What's the matter, cat got your tongue? - What happened to you? Swallowed your tongue?

The following expression has a very wide range of applications - Your mum!, i.e. "Your mother!". It can be used as a frivolous, humorous answer to almost any question. For example:

– What time is it? - What time is it?
- Your mum. - Your mother.

What does “Your mother” have to do with answering a question about time? It’s unclear, but the British can really answer that way. Mysterious English humor!

Now consider an expression we can use to silence a person. In Russian we say “Shut up!”, “Shut up!” etc., and in English - Shut your gob! Instead of gob, you can say trap or cakehole. For example:

Shut your gob Allison! I can hear your voice from my room. - Alison, shut up! I can hear you even from my room.

If we want a person to leave, then in English we can say Get lost!, which means “Get lost!” We can also say Do one!, which can be translated by various Russian phrases such as “Get away!”, “Get out of here!” and so on.

Get lost, I am tired of hearing from you. - Wash off! I'm tired of listening to you.

Expression Don't get your knickers in a twist used when we want to calm a person down. It roughly corresponds to the Russian phrases “Don’t worry!”, “Don’t bother!” and so on. For example:

Sally don’t get your knickers in a twist over that split milk on the floor! – Sally, don’t worry about spilled milk!

If you want to encourage a person to remain calm, you can also use the phrase Take a chill pill, which literally means “Take a calming pill.”

The following phrase sounds in relation to a person caught in a lie: Liar Liar Pants On Fire! It literally translates as “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” This is a childish expression that can often be heard in relation to an excessively boastful child:

– Well my dad can pick up a truck! - Yes, my dad can lift a truck!
– Liar Liar Pants On Fire! - Liar! Liar!

Expression Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy means an easy task simple task. By the way, in modern Great Britain this expression is very widely used. In Russian we say “nothing at all”, “like two fingers…”, etc.

The claim processes were easy peasy lemon squeezy. – This (legal) process turned out to be a mere trifle.

At the end of today's lesson, let's take a couple more expressions related to farewell and parting. First See you later alligator!- literally “Bye, alligator!” In response you may hear: After / In a while crocodile!, i.e. “Bye, crocodile.”

– See you later alligator! - Bye!
– After a while crocodile! - Bye!

Do you want to consolidate and deepen your knowledge of English slang, and in particular ways of calling a person names? Watch the following video lesson prepared for you by a native speaker.

As is known, English profanity based on the word f*ck. This does not mean at all that all English swearing limited to the verb “to copulate.” Just as its Russian counterpart has many cognate words that mean the widest range of feelings and various phenomena, the word f*ck is the basis for large quantity phrasal verbs and idioms. Below are the most common expressions with the word f*ck, knowledge of which will allow you to better understand live spoken English.

F*ck!
F*ck it!
- To hell! No need! Do not mind it! Do not pay attention!
F*ck it!
- Damn it! (Expression of fear or surprise)
F*ck - Fuck [something]! F*ck this place!
F*ck it all!
- To hell with all of it! Or like this: F*ck them all! - Fuck them all!
F*ck the world! - Fail, everyone!
I don't give a f*ck!
- I do not care!
Who gives a f*ck? - Who cares?

F*ck you! - Fuck you!

F*ck me!
- Wow!
F*ck away!
- Get out!
What the f*ck!
- What the heck!
The most common obscene phrasal verbs:
f*ck about – to dissolutely, to show off
f*ck somebody about – ignore someone
f*ck around - engage in nonsense, scatter, gouge.
f*ck somebody around - to fool someone or treat someone poorly
f*ck off - leave behind, get out. F*ck off! f*ck off – to be lazy or lazy
f*ck somebody off – to irritate or bore someone
f*ck over - to act dishonestly

f*ck somebody over – to deceive, use a person

f*cked out – tired, old, worthless
f*ck up - fail, fail, spoil...
f*ck up somebody (f*ck somebody up)
- to harm or upset someone.
be f*cked up - to be spoiled, worried or stoned.
f*ck somebody down – let down, set up. You f*cked me down! And some more meanings of this amazing word: f*ck somebody's mind - rinse someone's brain

get f*cked - to be deceived. I got f*cked by that asshole

f*ck somebody – not only “to make love”, but also “to deceive”. f*ck with somebody – tease, irritate, interfere motherf*cker - son of a bitch

Study English swear words, and in polite society you will never allow yourself to make ignorant statements that “we have hundreds of swear words, but you have only one.” Instead, you will demonstrate true ownership. English language, turning in a couple of appropriate turns for the occasion, and when some prude makes a remark to you, you will proudly answer: F*ck the politeness! You're f*cking me off, dude! Who the f*ck are you to lecture me?

As you can see, in order to swear well in English, one word is not enough - you need to be able to competently combine it with other, ordinary words. Ours is the easiest way to remember the five thousand most common words in the English language.