Language
English swear words
A guide to swearing in English: 103 words and phrases from the Swear Atlas catalogue, organised from mild to strong and explained in plain English. Every entry links to its full page with meaning, pronunciation and a 1–5 Burn Rating.
Common English swear words
The recognisable everyday expressions, with what each one actually means.
- fuck It’s a strong exclamation or an intensifier, often used to express anger or frustration, and it can also mean to have sex. 4/5 · Strong
- feck It's a milder exclamation or intensifier similar to 'fuck.' 2/5 · Coarse
- bugger It can be an insult, a term of endearment, or an expression of frustration. While it has a stronger sexual connotation in some contexts, it’s often used more casually in everyday speech. 3/5 · Vulgar
- cock This is a slang term for penis and can also be used as an insult. In some contexts, it refers to a male bird, but that's not the common use here. 3/5 · Vulgar
- goddamn It's a stronger exclamation or intensifier, often used to express frustration or emphasize a point. The literal sense is 'God condemn,' which adds a layer of seriousness to the expression. 3/5 · Vulgar
- fucker A derogatory term for a person, often used to express frustration or disdain. 4/5 · Strong
- arse A vulgar reference to the backside, specifically the buttocks. 2/5 · Coarse
- ass kisser It's an insult for someone who flatters others excessively to gain favor. The term suggests a lack of authenticity in the person's praise. 2/5 · Coarse
Milder expressions
Gentler exclamations and everyday grumbles.
- hell Literally “place of damnation”. Used as a mild exclamation or to intensify a statement, like saying 'hell yeah!' 1/5 · Mild
- numpty It's a mild insult for someone who's acting foolish or incompetent. Think of it as calling someone a bit of an idiot without being too harsh. 1/5 · Mild
- arse A vulgar reference to the backside, specifically the buttocks. 2/5 · Coarse
- ass kisser It's an insult for someone who flatters others excessively to gain favor. The term suggests a lack of authenticity in the person's praise. 2/5 · Coarse
- assclown It's a comic insult for someone who's acting like a complete fool or incompetent. Think of it as a playful jab at someone's stupidity. 2/5 · Coarse
- asshat It's a comic insult for someone who's being an obnoxious fool. Literally, it means 'ass hat,' which is just as silly as it sounds. 2/5 · Coarse
- balls It refers to testicles but is often used as an exclamation of disbelief or to imply courage in phrases like 'having the balls to do something.' 2/5 · Coarse
- bloody It's a mild swear-word intensifier often used to emphasize frustration or annoyance. Literally, it means 'covered in blood,' but that's not how it's used here. 2/5 · Coarse
Stronger stuff
The heavier end of the scale — handle with care.
- motherfucker Literally “person who has sex with a mother”. It's a very strong insult, often used to express anger or disdain, but can also be a term of endearment among friends. The literal sense refers to someone who has sex with a mother, though that's rarely the intended meaning. 5/5 · Extreme
- dumbfuck A strong insult aimed at someone perceived as very stupid. It's a harsher version of calling someone 'dumb.' 4/5 · Strong
- eat my ass This is a crude way to reject someone or challenge them, often used to dismiss their opinion or request. It can also imply a sexual connotation, suggesting a more explicit context. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck It’s a strong exclamation or an intensifier, often used to express anger or frustration, and it can also mean to have sex. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck off It's a hostile way to tell someone to leave you alone or stop annoying you. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck up It means to make a serious mistake or mess something up. It can also refer to a failure or a person who consistently fails, known as a fuckup. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck you It's a direct way to show contempt or anger towards someone. It doesn't literally mean anything sexual despite the words used. 4/5 · Strong
- fucked up It refers to something that is badly damaged, disordered, or someone who is intoxicated. It's often used to describe a situation or a person's state in a negative way. 4/5 · Strong
English insults
Words aimed at a person rather than shouted at the world.
- motherfucker Literally “person who has sex with a mother”. It's a very strong insult, often used to express anger or disdain, but can also be a term of endearment among friends. The literal sense refers to someone who has sex with a mother, though that's rarely the intended meaning. 5/5 · Extreme
- dumbfuck A strong insult aimed at someone perceived as very stupid. It's a harsher version of calling someone 'dumb.' 4/5 · Strong
- fuck off It's a hostile way to tell someone to leave you alone or stop annoying you. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck you It's a direct way to show contempt or anger towards someone. It doesn't literally mean anything sexual despite the words used. 4/5 · Strong
- fucker A derogatory term for a person, often used to express frustration or disdain. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckface It's a strong personal insult, typically aimed at someone to express contempt or disdain. It combines 'fuck' with 'face' to emphasize the insult. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckhead It's a strong insult used to call someone a fool or idiot. Essentially, it combines 'fuck' with 'head' to emphasize the stupidity of the person being insulted. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckup A serious mistake or a term for someone who is incompetent. It's often used to describe a significant blunder. 4/5 · Strong
Expressions & phrases
Multi-word expressions and set phrases.
- ass kisser It's an insult for someone who flatters others excessively to gain favor. The term suggests a lack of authenticity in the person's praise. 2/5 · Coarse
- bloody hell It's an exclamation expressing anger, surprise, or dismay, often used when something unexpected or frustrating happens. 2/5 · Coarse
- ape shit It means to become extremely angry or overly excited, often in a chaotic or uncontrolled way. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bugger off It's a rude way to tell someone to go away. Think of it as a more colorful version of 'get lost.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- choke the chicken This is a crude, humorous way to say someone is masturbating. 3/5 · Vulgar
- dog's bollocks It's an expression used to describe something as excellent or the best. Literally, it translates to 'dog's testicles.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- douche canoe It's a humorous way to call someone a douchebag, implying they're obnoxious or annoying. The term combines 'douche,' a derogatory term for a person, with 'canoe' for added absurdity. 3/5 · Vulgar
- flip the bird This phrase refers to making the middle-finger gesture, which is a clear insult. It's a non-verbal way to express disdain or anger towards someone. 3/5 · Vulgar
How to pronounce them
An English-friendly “sounds like” cue for each.
- hell Sounds like “hel”. 1/5 · Mild
- numpty Sounds like “NUM-tee”. 1/5 · Mild
- arse Sounds like “ahrs”. 2/5 · Coarse
- ass kisser Sounds like “as KISS-er”. 2/5 · Coarse
- assclown Sounds like “ass-KLOWN”. 2/5 · Coarse
- asshat Sounds like “ASS-hat”. 2/5 · Coarse
- balls Sounds like “bawls”. 2/5 · Coarse
- bloody Sounds like “BLUD-ee”. 2/5 · Coarse
Curious literal translations
What these expressions say word-for-word, versus what they really mean.
- hell Literally “place of damnation” — Used as a mild exclamation or to intensify a statement, like saying 'hell yeah!' 1/5 · Mild
- bastard Literally “person born outside marriage” — It's an insult for someone who's cruel or unpleasant. While it originally referred to a person born outside of marriage, that's mostly forgotten now. 3/5 · Vulgar
- douchebag Literally “douching bag” — It's an insult aimed at someone who's obnoxious or irritating. Literally, it refers to a bag used for douching, which adds a layer of disdain. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shit Literally “excrement” — It's an exclamation used to express dismay or frustration, but can also refer to something bad or troublesome. In a more positive context, it can describe something really good, as in 'the shit.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- shite Literally “excrement” — It's a variant of 'shit' and can also refer to something that's worthless or of poor quality. 3/5 · Vulgar
- wanker Literally “person who masturbates” — It's a contemptuous insult for someone you find irritating or despicable. Literally, it refers to someone who masturbates, but that’s not usually how it’s meant. 3/5 · Vulgar
- twat Literally “vulva” — It's a vulgar insult used to call someone a fool or an obnoxious person. Literally, it refers to female genitalia, but that's rarely the focus in casual use. 4/5 · Strong
- motherfucker Literally “person who has sex with a mother” — It's a very strong insult, often used to express anger or disdain, but can also be a term of endearment among friends. The literal sense refers to someone who has sex with a mother, though that's rarely the intended meaning. 5/5 · Extreme
How strong is English swearing?
Burn Rating spread across all 103 English entries (1 = mild, 5 = extreme).
- 1 · Mild 2
- 2 · Coarse 23
- 3 · Vulgar 57
- 4 · Strong 20
- 5 · Extreme 1
All English words A–Z
A
- ape shit It means to become extremely angry or overly excited, often in a chaotic or uncontrolled way. 3/5 · Vulgar
- arse A vulgar reference to the backside, specifically the buttocks. 2/5 · Coarse
- arsehole It's an insult for someone who's being particularly obnoxious or irritating. Literally, it translates to 'anus.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- arsewipe It's a contemptuous insult for someone unpleasant or irritating. Think of it as calling someone a real piece of shit. 3/5 · Vulgar
- ass kisser It's an insult for someone who flatters others excessively to gain favor. The term suggests a lack of authenticity in the person's praise. 2/5 · Coarse
- assclown It's a comic insult for someone who's acting like a complete fool or incompetent. Think of it as a playful jab at someone's stupidity. 2/5 · Coarse
- asshat It's a comic insult for someone who's being an obnoxious fool. Literally, it means 'ass hat,' which is just as silly as it sounds. 2/5 · Coarse
- asshole A vulgar insult for someone who is selfish or obnoxious. Literally translates to 'anus.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- asswipe It's a coarse insult for someone you find contemptible or despicable. The term suggests that the person is as useless as toilet paper. 3/5 · Vulgar
B
- ballbag It's a coarse insult referring to someone as a 'ballbag,' implying they're worthless or annoying. Literally, it translates to 'scrotum.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- balls It refers to testicles but is often used as an exclamation of disbelief or to imply courage in phrases like 'having the balls to do something.' 2/5 · Coarse
- bastard It's an insult for someone who's cruel or unpleasant. While it originally referred to a person born outside of marriage, that's mostly forgotten now. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bellend It's an insult for someone who's being a complete idiot or annoying. Literally, it refers to the head of the penis, which adds a layer of insult. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bloody It's a mild swear-word intensifier often used to emphasize frustration or annoyance. Literally, it means 'covered in blood,' but that's not how it's used here. 2/5 · Coarse
- bloody hell It's an exclamation expressing anger, surprise, or dismay, often used when something unexpected or frustrating happens. 2/5 · Coarse
- bollocks It refers to nonsense or something that doesn't make sense, and can also be used as an exclamation of frustration. Literally, it means testicles. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bugger It can be an insult, a term of endearment, or an expression of frustration. While it has a stronger sexual connotation in some contexts, it’s often used more casually in everyday speech. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bugger off It's a rude way to tell someone to go away. Think of it as a more colorful version of 'get lost.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- bullshit It refers to nonsense or dishonesty, often used to challenge a false claim. While it literally means 'bull excrement,' it rarely pertains to actual animal waste. 3/5 · Vulgar
- bullshitter A bullshitter is someone who talks nonsense or lies, often with confidence. It's a term that questions the honesty or validity of what someone is saying. 3/5 · Vulgar
- butthead It's a mild comic insult for someone perceived as foolish or silly. 2/5 · Coarse
- butthole It's a slang term for the anus, often used as an insult. It implies that someone is unpleasant or annoying, similar to calling someone an arsehole. 2/5 · Coarse
C
- choke the chicken This is a crude, humorous way to say someone is masturbating. 3/5 · Vulgar
- cock This is a slang term for penis and can also be used as an insult. In some contexts, it refers to a male bird, but that's not the common use here. 3/5 · Vulgar
- cockhead It's a derogatory term for someone considered foolish or stupid. Essentially, you're calling someone a dickhead. 3/5 · Vulgar
- crap It's a mild way to refer to rubbish, nonsense, or something of poor quality. Literally, it means excrement. 2/5 · Coarse
- crappy It describes something that is of poor quality or unpleasant. Essentially, it's a way to say something is not good enough. 2/5 · Coarse
D
- damn It's a mild expression of anger or emphasis, often used to express frustration or surprise. Literally, it means to condemn something. 2/5 · Coarse
- dick It's a slang term for penis but is often used to insult someone who is being obnoxious or annoying. 3/5 · Vulgar
- dickface This is a crude insult aimed at someone's character, implying they're foolish or annoying. It's a compound term that combines 'dick' and 'face' to emphasize contempt. 3/5 · Vulgar
- dickhead A dickhead is an insult for someone who's being foolish or obnoxious. Literally, it translates to 'penis head.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- dipshit It's an insult used to call someone foolish or stupid. 3/5 · Vulgar
- dog's bollocks It's an expression used to describe something as excellent or the best. Literally, it translates to 'dog's testicles.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- dogshit This refers to something of extremely poor quality or rubbish. It can also literally mean dog excrement. 3/5 · Vulgar
- douche canoe It's a humorous way to call someone a douchebag, implying they're obnoxious or annoying. The term combines 'douche,' a derogatory term for a person, with 'canoe' for added absurdity. 3/5 · Vulgar
- douchebag It's an insult aimed at someone who's obnoxious or irritating. Literally, it refers to a bag used for douching, which adds a layer of disdain. 3/5 · Vulgar
- dumbass It's an insult for someone acting foolishly or stupidly. Think of it as calling someone a dumb idiot. 2/5 · Coarse
- dumbfuck A strong insult aimed at someone perceived as very stupid. It's a harsher version of calling someone 'dumb.' 4/5 · Strong
F
- feck It's a milder exclamation or intensifier similar to 'fuck.' 2/5 · Coarse
- flip the bird This phrase refers to making the middle-finger gesture, which is a clear insult. It's a non-verbal way to express disdain or anger towards someone. 3/5 · Vulgar
- fuck It’s a strong exclamation or an intensifier, often used to express anger or frustration, and it can also mean to have sex. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck off It's a hostile way to tell someone to leave you alone or stop annoying you. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck up It means to make a serious mistake or mess something up. It can also refer to a failure or a person who consistently fails, known as a fuckup. 4/5 · Strong
- fuck you It's a direct way to show contempt or anger towards someone. It doesn't literally mean anything sexual despite the words used. 4/5 · Strong
- fucked up It refers to something that is badly damaged, disordered, or someone who is intoxicated. It's often used to describe a situation or a person's state in a negative way. 4/5 · Strong
- fucker A derogatory term for a person, often used to express frustration or disdain. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckface It's a strong personal insult, typically aimed at someone to express contempt or disdain. It combines 'fuck' with 'face' to emphasize the insult. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckhead It's a strong insult used to call someone a fool or idiot. Essentially, it combines 'fuck' with 'head' to emphasize the stupidity of the person being insulted. 4/5 · Strong
- fucking hell This is a strong expression used to convey surprise, anger, or dismay. It's often used when something unexpected or frustrating happens. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckup A serious mistake or a term for someone who is incompetent. It's often used to describe a significant blunder. 4/5 · Strong
- fuckwit It's a strong insult for someone who's incompetent or just plain stupid. 4/5 · Strong
- full of shit This means someone is being dishonest or talking nonsense. It's a straightforward way to call out bullshit. 3/5 · Vulgar
G
- go fuck yourself This is a strong way to tell someone you want them to leave you alone or that you strongly disagree with them. It’s a direct and hostile dismissal that conveys deep contempt. 4/5 · Strong
- go to hell This phrase expresses strong anger or contempt, telling someone to leave or implying they deserve bad things. It’s typically used figuratively rather than as a serious threat. 3/5 · Vulgar
- goddamn It's a stronger exclamation or intensifier, often used to express frustration or emphasize a point. The literal sense is 'God condemn,' which adds a layer of seriousness to the expression. 3/5 · Vulgar
H
- hell Used as a mild exclamation or to intensify a statement, like saying 'hell yeah!' 1/5 · Mild
- holy fuck This is a strong exclamation used to express shock or amazement, whether it’s good or bad. It’s often an emotional response to something unexpected. 4/5 · Strong
- horseshit This refers to nonsense or lies, essentially calling something complete bullshit. The literal meaning is horse excrement, which adds a bit of imagery to the insult. 3/5 · Vulgar
J
- jack off It means to masturbate. It's a straightforward term for the act of self-pleasure. 3/5 · Vulgar
- jackass It's an insult for someone who is foolish or annoying. Literally, it means a male donkey, but that's not how it's used here. 2/5 · Coarse
- jackshit It means nothing at all or very little. It's often used to emphasize a lack of something significant. 3/5 · Vulgar
- jerk off It means to masturbate or to waste time. The context usually makes it clear which meaning is intended. 3/5 · Vulgar
K
- kiss my ass It's a dismissive phrase used to reject someone's request or opinion. It conveys a strong sense of defiance, often implying that the speaker doesn't care about the other person's feelings or demands. 3/5 · Vulgar
- knob This is slang for a penis and can also be used to insult someone as a fool. It's a versatile term that can imply both stupidity and a crude reference to male anatomy. 3/5 · Vulgar
- knobhead It's a coarse insult aimed at someone perceived as foolish or stupid. Think of it as calling someone a dickhead. 3/5 · Vulgar
N
- nitwit A person lacking intelligence or common sense. 2/5 · Coarse
- numbnuts It's a humorous insult for someone acting foolish or stupid. 2/5 · Coarse
- numpty It's a mild insult for someone who's acting foolish or incompetent. Think of it as calling someone a bit of an idiot without being too harsh. 1/5 · Mild
P
- piece of shit It's a strong insult used to express contempt for someone or something. Essentially, it labels a person or thing as worthless or despicable. 4/5 · Strong
- piss It refers to urine, but it's commonly used as a verb for urination. It can also show annoyance or frustration in various expressions. 2/5 · Coarse
- piss off It’s a rude way to tell someone to go away or to express annoyance. It can also mean to irritate someone. 3/5 · Vulgar
- pissed It means either being drunk or being angry, depending on where you are. In British English, it typically refers to being drunk, while in American English, it leans more toward being angry. 2/5 · Coarse
- pisshead It's an insult for someone who drinks heavily and often. Essentially, it labels them as a drunkard. 3/5 · Vulgar
- prick It's a derogatory term used to insult someone, typically implying they're unpleasant or annoying. Literally, it refers to a penis, but that's not the everyday usage here. 3/5 · Vulgar
S
- scumbag It's an insult aimed at someone you consider despicable or worthless. The term conveys moral contempt rather than just being a crude insult. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shit It's an exclamation used to express dismay or frustration, but can also refer to something bad or troublesome. In a more positive context, it can describe something really good, as in 'the shit.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- shit for brains This is an insult implying that someone is very stupid. It suggests their brain is as useless as shit. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shite It's a variant of 'shit' and can also refer to something that's worthless or of poor quality. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitface It's a crude insult used to demean someone, implying they are worthless or unpleasant. It's not particularly creative, just a straightforward way to call someone a loser. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitfaced Extremely drunk. It describes a state of inebriation where someone is unable to function normally. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shithead It's an insult for someone who's being unpleasant or foolish. Literally, it translates to 'head of excrement.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- shithole A very unpleasant place, often used to describe a rundown or undesirable location. Literally, it's a 'hole full of excrement.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitshow A chaotic or disastrous situation, often one that spirals out of control. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitstain It's a strong insult implying someone is worthless or disgusting, like a stain you can't get rid of. The literal sense refers to an actual stain, but it's mostly used figuratively. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitstorm It refers to a situation filled with chaos, trouble, or intense criticism. Think of it as a perfect storm of problems. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shitty It describes something as very poor, unpleasant, or unfair. It's a straightforward way to express dissatisfaction. 3/5 · Vulgar
- shut the fuck up A very aggressive command telling someone to stop talking immediately. 4/5 · Strong
- smartass An insult for someone who is annoyingly clever or cheeky, often when they think they’re being funny or clever but are just irritating. 2/5 · Coarse
- sod It's a British insult or a familiar way to refer to someone, often used playfully or with mild annoyance. The term has historical sexual connotations but is generally more about the tone than the literal meaning today. 2/5 · Coarse
- sod off It's a rude way to tell someone to go away or leave you alone. 3/5 · Vulgar
- suck my dick It's a strong sexualized insult or challenge, typically implying contempt or defiance. 4/5 · Strong
T
- taking the piss It means to mock someone or behave in a silly or unreasonable way. It's often used when someone is being ridiculous or not taking things seriously. 3/5 · Vulgar
- tit This is a British insult for someone considered foolish or silly. It can also refer to a breast in a more informal context. 2/5 · Coarse
- tosser It's an insult for someone who's being obnoxious or foolish. Literally, it refers to a person who masturbates. 3/5 · Vulgar
- twat It's a vulgar insult used to call someone a fool or an obnoxious person. Literally, it refers to female genitalia, but that's rarely the focus in casual use. 4/5 · Strong
- twat waffle It's a comic insult aimed at someone perceived as an obnoxious fool. The term combines a derogatory term for a woman with a playful twist. 3/5 · Vulgar
W
- wank It refers to masturbation, but it can also mean something is rubbish or worthless. 3/5 · Vulgar
- wanker It's a contemptuous insult for someone you find irritating or despicable. Literally, it refers to someone who masturbates, but that’s not usually how it’s meant. 3/5 · Vulgar
- wankstain It's a contemptuous insult aimed at someone, implying they're worthless or annoying. The term combines 'wank', meaning to masturbate, with 'stain', suggesting a permanent mark of shame or failure. 3/5 · Vulgar
- what the fuck It's a strong expression of disbelief or confusion, often used when something unexpected or absurd occurs. 4/5 · Strong
- wiseass It's an insult for someone who is annoyingly clever or cheeky, often making sarcastic remarks. Think of it as calling someone a smartass. 2/5 · Coarse