77 of the Best (Bleeping) Dirty Words from Around the World [NSFW]
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I don’t usually start off my blog posts with a warning, but this one needs it: This blog post is NSFW and definitely not family-friendly. You won’t learn these dirty words in textbooks!
Whenever we learn a new language, we all get curious about how to swear. We all want to know those dirty words, the banned words, the bad words your mum would’ve washed your mouth out for saying.
There’s something compelling about learning swear words in another language. It’s almost like it gives you that insider feeling. The sense that you’ve got a little extra knowledge in the language that makes you closer to native speaking. Because, most of us curse – at least sometimes, right?
I think it’s especially appealing, too, because it’s a taboo. They’re words you can’t say on radio or most television, so they’re a bit harder to learn and find as you’re starting out in your target language.
Here’s a great place to get you started learning those bad words. But be careful when and how you use them! If you wouldn’t shout an offensive curse word in a certain situation in your native language, don’t use the equivalent in another language.
Before we get into the article, if you are interested in learning any of these languages yourself, you should know that I’ve created a bunch of digital products to help with many aspects of language learning, and run a coaching program (Bootcamp) that has had many aspiring learners take part and successfully speak after 3 intensive months.
You can see that I have specific courses for beginners struggling with Spanish, French, German, Italian, English and Chinese.
Please do check out these offerings, since I have put a lot of work into all of these, and I know they’ll make a huge difference to your language learning project! Thanks for considering, and now, back to the article:
English Dirty Words
Up first, we have both American and British dirty words. Because for the rest of this article, you're going to need to know the gist of these (should you not already). Some of them also show up adapted in other languages. Especially one, in particular, is almost universal around the globe – you’ll know it as the top dirtiest word in most languages.
Fuck – “Sex”, or an Intensifier
That’s right. Let’s get it out in the open. There’s that swear word which has all the oomph and intensity behind it. It can be used for sexual references, but it’s most commonly used now as an intensifier to show your anger or irritation. In Ireland, we have a milder way of saying it with “feck”. Don’t assume its uses or intensity carry over unchanged into another language.
Prick – “Terrible/Rude Person”
A word used when someone is being obnoxious, stupid, or rude.
Bastard – “Illegitimate Child”
Originally meaning a child born out of wedlock, now it’s used to call someone a jerk or to say a situation’s unpleasant. You could also say “git” (pronounced with a hard G).
Bellend – “Penis Head”
Ah, so many dirty words are associated with certain body parts. This one refers to a penis, or is used to call someone an idiot. There’s also knobend and dickhead.
Ass/Arse – “Butt”
Calling someone a jerk or a fool (“You asshole!”) or saying you couldn’t give a damn (“I don’t give an arse” or “I can’t be arsed”).
Cunt – “Vagina”
One of the most offensive dirty words (at least in English), referring to a vagina, typically used to call people stupid. In the UK, the BBFC considers context and frequency when classifying very strong language; the word doesn’t automatically make a film an “18”.
Balls – “Testicles”
Often thrown out there as a question of manliness or courage to do or not do something. “He doesn’t have the balls to do it.” or “He has some balls to say that.” (Like “he has some nerve.”) In the UK you might hear “bollocks” more often.
Shit – “Poop” or “Crap”
Now one of the most universal bad words there is in the English language. Shit is used in so many ways, like “piece of shit” to say something is worthless, or “shitty” as an adjective for something bad — like a “shitty day.” “You don’t know shit” means you don’t know anything, but “you know your shit” means you know quite a lot! It’s also used as an exclamation when something bad happens.
How Offensive Are They? English Swear Words from Mild to Filthy
Not every swear word lands the same way, and reactions vary by country and company. This is a rough conversational guide, not an official rating system or a set of age limits; even a supposedly mild word can offend.
Mild, the kind you’ll hear on daytime telly: damn, crap, bloody (very British), bugger, pissed off. You can usually get away with these around most people. They add a bit of spice without causing real offence, and they’re a safe place to start.
Medium, fine among friends but risky around your nan: arse, bastard, prick, bollocks, git. Friendly fire between friends, but not words for a job interview or your partner’s parents.
Strong, and best kept away from anyone under 17: shit, asshole, wanker, son of a bitch, dick, motherfucker. These have real bite. Native speakers use them happily, but they always clock who they’re talking to first.
Nuclear, handle with extreme care: cunt is about as strong as English gets, especially in the US. Oddly, in the UK and Australia it turns up far more casually between friends, but unless you’re sure of the company, leave this one well alone.
A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t say it in front of a thirteen-year-old, save it for people you know well.
Should You Actually Use These?
Knowing swear words and using them are two very different things. The best reason to learn them is so you understand what’s going on, whether that’s a line in a film, a lyric, a heated football chat, or a local stubbing their toe. You’ll catch loads of jokes and asides you’d otherwise miss completely.
Actually using them is a bigger gamble. Get the word, the tone, or the moment slightly wrong and you can come across as rude or aggressive rather than fluent and funny. Swearing is tied tightly to who you’re with and how well you know them, and that’s the hardest thing for a learner to read. So enjoy knowing them, understand them when you hear them, and go easy on saying them until you’ve got a real feel for the room.
Irish Dirty Words
This section includes both Irish English, such as gobdaw and fecker, and words from the Irish language. They aren’t the same thing, and a couple of misleading translations need care:
Gobdaw – “Dumbass”
A gullible idiot. Like calling someone a “dumbass” or “twat”.
Fecker – “Fucker”
Like I mentioned, “feck” is a milder form of “fuck”, and the same is true for fecker. It’s similar to “fucker”, but a little “kinder”.
Raicleach – “Witch”
An insulting word for an argumentative woman, like “witch” or “shrew”; it doesn’t specifically mean a promiscuous woman.
Cúl Tóna – An Unverified Insult
Don’t rely on this as an Irish translation of “dickhead”; the claimed meaning isn’t well supported.
Aiteann – “Gorse”, Not a Swear Word
Aiteann means “gorse”, the plant. Don’t learn it as a translation of “cunt”: that meaning isn’t supported by the Irish dictionaries.
Téigh go dtí ifreann! – “Go to Hell!”
There are lots of creative variations of this one stemming from “devil” and “hell”. But this is the classic for when you’re really angry with someone.
Póg mo thóin. – “Kiss My Ass.”
For when you really want to tell someone to suck it.
French Dirty Words
La belle langue is about to get a bit dirty!
Merde – “Shit”
Definitely the most common of all the French dirty words, it’s used like “shit” in English. Your every day, all-situations curse word.
Putain – “Whore”
Although it means “whore”, it’s used more like “fuck”. You can use it to express exasperation, exclamation, and as an adjective. You can even combine it with merde to create putain de merde — “fucking shit.”
C’est des Conneries – “This is Bullshit”
Like in English, if you’re feeling frustrated with a situation, you can call bullshit. Or, grumble about it to yourself in your target language.
Salope – “Bitch”
Also, “slut”. It's a bit harsher than the English “bitch” which is sometimes used in a casual way.
Fils de Salope – “Son of a Bitch”
Obviously, use with care whenever you start referring to mothers. But you can use this as an exclamation like in English, too. Fils de pute (“son of a whore”) is a common alternative.
T’as Pas de Couilles – “You Don’t Have the Balls”
Want to call someone out on their bluff? Tell them they don’t have the balls to go through with it.
Je M’en Fous – “I Don’t Give a Shit”
When you’re looking for an eloquent way to express your lack of shits to give, here’s your phrase!
Osti de Calisse de Tabarnak (Quebec only) – “Goddamn Motherfucking Shit!”
This is the mother of all curses in Quebec. Each word on its own (osti, calisse and tabarnak) is itself a swear word that can be used individually, but they combine to form a phrase that will have your mother washing your mouth out with soap in no time flat.
Spanish Dirty Words
Such a passionate language is bound to have colourful dirty words. Here are some creative ways to express frustration:
Mierda – “Shit”
This literally refers to faeces but can be used in any situation to express frustration.
Váyase a la Mierda – “Fuck off”
Also using “mierda” but in a stronger way. Could also be translated as, “Go fuck yourself.”
Que te Folle un Pez – “I Hope You Get Fucked By a Fish”
I have no idea where this one started, but talk about a creative way to tell someone off!
Puto – “Fucking”
Used as an intensifying adjective, like este puto coche – “this fucking car”. Used on its own about a person, it can be a homophobic slur, so context matters.
Verga – “Cock” or “Prick”
A vulgar word for the penis, also used in exclamations in parts of Latin America. Don’t assume it means an arrogant person just because English “prick” can.
Cojones – “Balls”
It wouldn’t be right to leave this one off the list. Men love to talk about los cojones and whether another person has them, or rather the courage and muster. Sometimes you’ll hear Tienes cojones – “You have balls” – like in English.
Coño – “Cunt”
This one has various meanings, depending on where you hear it. It can also be “twat” or even “damn” in Spain. It’s not always considered as offensive as the English equivalent, depending which country you’re in and who you’re talking to, but use it carefully just in case.
Want to swear like a local in Mexico? I broke down some proper Mexican Spanish ones over on Instagram. Give @languagehacking a follow for plenty more like this:
Italian Dirty Words
You may know a few inappropriate hand gestures in Italian – so here are some passionate expressions to go with them.
Cazzo – “Dick”
Also “fuck” or “shit”, it’s the common swear word for everything in Italian.
Che Palle! – “What a Pain!”
Literally “what balls!”, this expresses boredom or annoyance, like “what a pain!” It doesn’t mean someone has a lot of nerve.
Tette – “Tits”
I can just picture you giggling at this one.
Stronzo – “Asshole”
Or, stronza for a woman.
Fanculo – “Fuck”
You can use it as an exclamation, or to express your anger with someone.
Vaffanculo – “Fuck You”
This is definitely one you’ll see with some not-so-nice hand gestures, and it ranks amongst the strongest terms in Italian.
Pompinara – “Cocksucker”
A strong noun to call someone in your wrath. Keep in mind, these may be fighting words to Italians.
German Dirty Words
German has some amazingly descriptive words for all occasions… And swear words are no exception.
Arschgesicht – “Ass Face”
Yes, “ass face”, or a little harsher – “fuck face.” It’s a pretty intense (and humorous) insult.
Scheißkopf – “Shithead”
Basically, a “dumbass” or “idiot” you can’t stand.
Küss meinen Arsch – “Kiss My Ass”
A handy phrase for when someone’s getting on your last nerve.
Verpiss Dich! – “Fuck Off!”
When you want to get the hell away from someone.
Zur Hölle mit… – “To Hell With…”
Like, Zur Hölle mit ihnen – “To hell with ‘em!”
Wichser – “Wanker”
Like “prick” or “asshole,” and used the same way.
Arschgeige – “Dickhead”
Similar to Arschgesicht, but this one translates to “ass fiddle” which is just an incredible insult.
Portuguese Dirty Words
These expressions vary between Brazil and Portugal, so don’t assume they all carry the same meaning or force everywhere.
Cabra / Cabrão – “Bastard” or “Fucker”
Cabra can insult a woman in Portugal, while Cabrão is a strong insult aimed at a man. In Brazil, cabra can also mean a man or fellow without necessarily being an insult.
Monte de Merda – “Piece of Shit”
Merda means “shit”, so you can use it as you would that word.
Caralho – “Dick”
While it means penis, cock, or dick, it’s used more like “fuck.” You can also say foda-se, which is used like an exclamation when something bad happens.
Vai Para o Caralho – “Go Fuck Yourself”
For when you’re really pissed off.
Rego Do Cu – “Ass Crack”
A crude term for the cleft between the buttocks; it isn’t a standard equivalent of “an arrogant person”.
Puta Que Pariu – “Holy Shit”
Used as an interjection or exclamation to express surprise (and often slips out in the moment).
Chupa-mos – “Suck it”
A very vulgar dismissal heard in Portugal, with a sexual meaning. Don’t treat it as a polite alternative to Vai para o caralho.
I did the same for Brazilian Portuguese, and there’s plenty more waiting for you over on @languagehacking:
Russian Dirty Words
Russian curse words are quite an art form. They start with a few basic words that morph into thousands of variations and ways to offend someone.
Хуй (Khui) – “Dick”
While it translates to “dick”, it transforms into a catch-all dirty word, like for the next phrase….
Хуй тебе́! (Khui tebé!) – “Fuck You!”
Хуй is often the root of all major insults in Russian.
Сучка (Suchka) – “Little Bitch”
A noun for when someone’s pissed you off.
Обосра́ться (Obosrat'sya) – “Shit” or “Crapping One’s Pants”
This is a verb meaning “to shit oneself”, also used figuratively for a humiliating failure. Quite the lovely image!
Не будь жо́пой! (Ne bud' zhopoy!) – “Don’t Be an Asshole!”
When you need to tell someone to lay off.
блядь (blyad') – “Whore”
Another catch-all word, this one is used as an exclamation like “damn” or “shit.” But also used to call a woman a “slut” or a man a “dickhead”.
Да ебал я это! (Da yebal ya eto!) – “Fuck This!”
Or “I don’t fucking care anymore!” for when you’re exasperated and rejecting the whole situation.
Chinese Dirty Words
Chinese has some very interesting ways to insult someone, so I’m going to start right out with my favourite:
王八蛋 (Wáng Bā Dàn) – “Tortoise Egg”
Yes, this is a highly insulting phrase in Chinese, and basically equates to “bastard” in English. The interesting thing about this phrase is it's become such a common bad word that it spurred tons of other “egg” related insults.
混蛋 (Hún Dàn) – “Mixed Egg”
This insults someone as a fool or scoundrel, roughly like “bastard” or “jerk”. Don’t read the literal characters as a factual claim about their ancestry.
狗屁 (Gǒu Pì) – “Dog Fart”
You read that right: “dog fart”. It’s used like “bullshit”. As in 放你妈的狗屁 (fàng nǐ mā de gǒu pì) – “Your mom’s dog fart” or “That’s bullshit.”
混帳 (Hùn zhàng) – “Git”
Also means “bastard” and is a major insult.
他妈的 (Tā mā de) – “Fuck”
Like in English, it’s used as an exclamation or intensifier.
去你的 (Qù nǐ de) – “Screw You”
Or “screw you” and “fuck off”. It’s actually a bit milder than it sounds in English.
我肏 (Wǒ Cào) – “Holy Shit”
Used when you’re equally surprised and impressed.
Japanese Dirty Words
Japanese bad words don’t always have the same “oomph” they do in other languages, because giving offense in Japanese can be so nuanced. But here are some common offensive words:
くそ (Kuso) – “Shit” or “Fuck”
Kuso literally means “shit” and can express frustration like “damn!” Its grammar and force don’t map onto every use of English “fuck”.
やりまん (Yariman) – “Slut”
Used when calling someone promiscuous, and it’s highly insulting. There’s also the male version — やりちん (yarichin).
くそったれ (Kusottare) – “Shithead”
An abusive way to address someone, roughly like “shithead”. There isn’t a neat one-to-one match for its strength in English.
ぶす (Busu) – “Ugly Hag”
An insulting word meaning “ugly woman”. You may hear it in anime, but attacking someone’s appearance can be deeply hurtful in real life.
死ね (Shine) – “Die!”
You might’ve heard this in shonen anime, but it literally tells someone to die. It’s extremely hostile, so don’t treat it as an ordinary everyday “go to hell”.
くたばれ、ボケ (Kutabare, boke) – “Drop Dead, Idiot”
The first word is a crude command to die, so this is a hostile insult rather than casual banter.
Korean Dirty Words
There are lots of fun slang and dirty expressions in Korean, even some silly ones from kids’ shows like calling someone 빵꾸똥꾸 (bbang-gu-ddong-gu – “poopy fart”).
아, 씨발 (Ah, Sshi-bal) – “Ah, Fuck”
It can be used the same way as in English.
씨방새 (Sshi-bang-sae) – “Fuck You”
Here’s the intense way to tell someone to leave you alone in Korean.
개새 (Gae-sae) – “SOB”
“Son of a bitch” or “SOB”. It’s a shortened way to literally say “a dog’s offspring.”
년 (Nyeon) – “Bitch”
There are lots of other expressions that stem from this one, but this is your standard insult.
좆 (Jot) – “Penis”
Literally meaning a penis or dick. But it’s used in many fun sayings, like…
좆 같은 놈/년 (Jot-gat-eun-nom/nyeon) – “You bastard/bitch”
Also like saying “you’re shitty,” but would more accurately translate to “bastard” or “bitch” in English.
아, 좆같네 (Ah, jot-gat-ne) – “It’s fucked up”
It means “It’s like a dick” but the English translation would be closer to “It’s fucked up.”
Now Go Learn Some (Bleep)ing Useful Words
Got that out of your system? You can go swear like a sailor in languages from around the world now! But if you get yourself in trouble using them, you’re on your own! Don’t forget to go learn some polite words to make up for the vulgarity, like essential phrases in other languages. Or if you fancy sweetening things up after all that, here’s how to say “my love” in different languages, plus the best terms of endearment from around the world.
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