linguaholic Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 We all know swear words in several languages, but which language has the best (most) swear words? I'm curious to hear your opinion about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kotro Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm not sure about the best-sounding language for swearing, but the most suitable with probably be any other than the language spoken at the place you're at. Unless, of course you're not just venting and actually want something to occur out of the swearing - in that case make it inteligible. As for quantity and quality, I can only judge on the languages I know best. From those I think English just takes the biscuit - there is just a lot more variety to it, and also a great freedom to combine words into new ones that just isn't possible in Portuguese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Hard Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 To curse effectively, you should sound harsh. IMO, since German is one of the most harshest sounding languages and their words then regardless of the number of swear words they have, it's certainly the best language for cursing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True2marie Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Funny question. The most appropriate language for swearing is your native language. This way, you won't have any trouble enunciating the words correctly or using them in the proper context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted December 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Maybe I should reformulate the question, as it seems that "most suitable" was a little bit misleading here hehe :=) Still, it is also interesting to hear your opinion about the most suitable language for swearing. However, my intention was to ask about the language, which has the richest (best) vocabulary when it comes to swearing :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBlink182 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Oh man, I'm not proud to admit this, but some of the most common cursing words in Dutch are diseases. It's frowned upon, but most young people (from certain areas) curse with words like cancer all the time. It's horrible and a lot of people are disgusted by it, but it happens all the time. And besides the diseases (we use a lot of them as curse words) we pretty much curse with anything that's even remotely negative. Dutch sucks haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caparica007 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Ahah, it's hard to say, I suppose the best language for us to curse must always be our native language, for me there's no language to curse like Portuguese. Sure, I find entertaining the English curse words lol, especially when translated to my language, a**hole for example! :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarownica Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Polish is nice for that, especially compared to English. We have many swear words and they're just so expressive and possible to use in many forms.Of course, maybe it's just my subjective feeling, since that's the language that I use most often for swearing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expressionism Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Italian, hands down! Portuguese is a close second. I'd think German would also sound rather frightening when yelling out insults at someone. Ahah, it's hard to say, I suppose the best language for us to curse must always be our native language, for me there's no language to curse like Portuguese. Sure, I find entertaining the English curse words lol, especially when translated to my language, a**hole for example! :grin:I agree, rude English words sound really funny to me if I think about them or translate them. I especially love the fact that you can combine them so well to come up with a huge array of 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kotro Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Italian, hands down! Oh yeah, Italian! How could I forget that one? It's such a vivid and creative language, that when people insult you it almost seems you're being sung to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidney Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 In the heat of the moment, your native language will always be the preferred and most "suitable" language for swearing. But for display purposes or when the mood hits you, you can also use your 2nd language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baburra Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 I think Cantonese lends itself the best for swearing. It has a very snappy quality to it that I think already kind of sounds like swearing even with just regular communication to begin with, that I imagine their swear words contribute and utilize a lot more of the effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trellum Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't want to brag here, but I really think my language is the best for that (I have no reason to brag, I'm actually ashamed my language is great for swearing). I'm from Mexico, here in Mexico we speak a spanish that is really good for swearing! Believe me! A lot foreigners have told me that We have a word for everything!!! You can basically swear on anything or anyone. I personally think the spanish spoken in Mexico is extremely vulgar I hate that! I actually avoid swearing as much as possible, simply because I don't really like to swear. I only do it when I'm really mad tho! But I swear most young people over here swear too much, and use a very vulgar language. Ugh, the other day I was at the movies, a girl behind me was openly talking with her male friend about her first pap test. Gosh, she was so vulgar!! She was discussing a very inappropiate topic in a public place, but not only that... she used a collection with the most vulgar words you can ever imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetSerendipity Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 Wow, I actually learned a lot reading through the responses to this question, and I think it is a rather interesting topic. I was thinking that German would be the best language to curse in, as it sounds harsh when it is spoken and you could probably say something completely innocent in a mean voice, and it would sound like cursing.I think the most satisfying language to curse in would be one in which the other person had no clue what you were saying. I enjoyed being creative with my words when I was learning French; I was not aware that Mexican Spanish was so expressive and vulgar, so that might be an interesting language to curse in if I knew the words! Regardless of which language you swear in, though, it's probably always best to use caution, as you don't know who around you can understand you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre-nunes Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 I would love to swear in German, it sounds so harsh sometimes. Any language descendent from the Vikings is great for swearing :devil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gegegeno Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Well, I speak Australian English...we have a very "colourful" vocabulary. I guess that's what you get when the first generation of people in your country were all criminals!Finnish is also quite expressive with its swear words. I won't post anything here, but for those who are interested can check out the article about it on Wikipedia (probably NSFW). The last entry is a word I heard a few times a day when I was in Finland last month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuppycake Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Haha, well, I would have to say my native language, English. But that is probably because I am used to my own language and it is the language I am most comfortable with and most aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daimashin Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 The most suitable language for swearing in my opinion is in whatever language the person you're swearing at can understand. No point in swearing in a language no one can understand. Unless, you're swearing to let off steam instead of really scolding the person that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPen Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 The most suitable language for swearing is your native language. There is no better feeling like swearing in your own language. Somehow swearing in a foreign language, it does not feel the same. Funniest languages for swearing - maybe German or Chinese. They sound very funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broknkyboard Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Cursing in Japanese is inelegant, vague, and harsh, but I'll be damned if it isn't satisfying. It's also famous for being open to interpretation; based on your tone one word could have several different meanings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gegegeno Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Re: cursing in Japanese, I studied in Osaka and speak colloquial Japanese with a slight Osakan accent, which is though of as unsophisticated by the far more cultured Tokyoites. Swearing in that accent can be particularly fun, though most of my interactions lately with Japanese people have required a little more politeness...In Japanese you don't "swear" so much as you speak impolitely with (it's hard to explain, but) a particular tone of voice that makes it clear. Politeness is a big deal in Japanese culture, so speaking in a way that isn't polite to someone you're meant to be more polite to is insulting in itself, but add the tone and there's no ambiguity. The dialects spoken in western Japan (incl. Kyoto, Osaka and [sorta] Hiroshima) are more expressive than the Tokyo (standard) dialect to begin with, so swearing in that accent is just that little bit more entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peninha Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I'd say both Spanish and English seem pretty great for swearing! Come on, when you say hijo de p*** in Spanish or a**h*** in English, it doesn't get much worse than that, it's a big aggressiveness in the tone and words, strong stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosa Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I am not one to swear but I have heard a couple in other languages and I doubt any would surpass my second language. Jamaican Creole to me is most suitable for swearing. There are some quite impressive expressions in that language which can be both very disturbing and disgusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justusforus Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Some great responses on here. I have to agree that German seems to sound like you are really getting cursed out well. I do also agree that Italian is another, but it is more musical on the ears even though the message may not be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmunmrhundun Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I think the most suitable language for swearing is English. I mean it is almost the prototype language for swearing. Not that this sounds dumb or anything but when ever I hear someone swear in a foreign language they are always asked what it means in English. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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