It occurred to me last night that several good-hearted commenters were baffled by Vaxlady’s request to avoid a particular word. (I also learned some interesting information about the Queen’s use of slang. I haven’t met her, so I’ll take their word for it). For many people in the US, that word is as derogatory to women as the N word is to people of color. It’s rarely used, so it still has shock value - much as the F word had about 50 years ago.
Having commenters from every English-speaking country here, I thought SAVers might like to share some other words or phrases that surprise, offend or just stymie them. With global media, there may not be as misunderstandings now. But this might keep s few OT threads off the main pages, and may just help avoid a future flame-war.
I shared one last night: when I soent a semester at school in England, I couldn’t understand why people kept asking me - a female - to “knock them up.” It took a few weeks before I understood it meant “come knock on my door.” Caused me a lot of embarrassment.
Other words that have started to find their way into my vernacular is “bruh”
Typically used when someone has done something truly stupid and asinine. Example:
one of my pharmacy techs got lazy stacking supplies and a whole rack of vials, lids, and covid testing supplies spilled all over the place. Pharmacy tech #2 witnessing the event:
” BRUH!” Both were females.
I mostly work with people 20-30 years younger than me and it seems to be genderless, although I’m pretty sure it originally started out as a term for males.
Trump, with a small "t" means fart in the UK.
Words that are off limits in Australia.
Coon.
Boong.
Abo.
Gin.
All highly derogatory words for aborigines. Same as the N word in America.
To me language is all about context. How is Cunt derogatory to women when we are talking about a male who has just mutilated 19 children?
That's what I'm not understanding in this conversation.
Fruitfly went off his head the other night using this word in a targeted fashion and it was vile.
While I understand the pushback, I think it went too far. On the whole I think we moderate ourselves pretty well here.
I will not stand for vilification of others in any form though and I think that was the problem here.
Don't ask what a thong is in Aussie vernacular.
As a Brit, I use the cee word when I'm extremely cross, and it has become un-gendered here, as, it seems, in Australia. (Eg, applied to Trump or Johnson 👿)
Swearing can be therapeutic, and you need to retain something transgressive.
Does anyone know if Australians have words that still have shock-value?
The word period for full stop is startling to me as in the UK this means a menstrual period which were always kept completely secret and undiscussed in my day. So when someone says '...blah blah blah. PERIOD' it's like someone ran into the room and shouted something rude very loudly!
I'm not sure I believe the Queen would use the c-word - in my experience it's still the one that would cause genuine shock - I have never used it out loud.
Hundreds of years ago the equivalent word was quim so some Brits were rather startled by Loki and his mewling quim comment because he was in effect calling her a 'whining c***'!
Sigh...what would the Bard say?
Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
Ophelia: No, my lord.
Hamlet: I mean, my head upon your lap?
Ophelia: Ay, my lord.
Hamlet: Do you think I meant country matters?
Oldsters like me remember that to say something sucked or sucks was quite risque, It slowly year by year worked its way into the general vernacular
I went to visit an American friend who had moved to England for work. When I exited the plane, immigration asked me what my business was in England and when I said I was visiting a friend, she asked if we were "lovers" which I thought was quite rude, as it is none of her business if we were having sex. Apparently, that is a more general term for "romantically involved" in England?
Oh, here’s a goodie that I was oblivious to growing up: gypsy. We toss that around casually over here in the USA. Much to the extreme offense of the Romani people.
Edit to add that I grew up with people casually saying to “gyp” someone and also to “Jew them down”. I had no clue these terms were even racist in origin at the time. They were so commonly used.
I once got an ass-chewing from an Australian hotel maid because I used the word "bugger". In the U.S., "bugger" is an innocuous term for "damned annoying thing" and has nothing whatever to do with forcible sodomy. I was completely shocked at how pissed off she got over my use of that word to describe a sticking suitcase latch.
Hard opening and closing consonants. That’s why I like “prick” and “dick” so much. Strange that there’s no taboo on any of the names for the male genitalia. Maybe because they’ve always been so inordinately proud of them.
Cigs being fags still always causes me pause. Yet I like the c word. Go figure. Maybe because I have a c? So I figure it’s ok? Who knows but it’s a satisfying word. Swear words need good mouth feel.
I’ve never heard of a minge, but I can guess. I find this hilarious, since every time I watch a British costume drama on PBS there’s a female character named Fanny. I’ll chalk it up to evolving usage, like “gay.”
This is an old one but I still find it funny when Americans use the word ‘fanny.’ In the UK that means a girl’s ‘minge.’