English
10 English swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of English expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 English expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- fuck 4/5 · Strong
It’s a strong exclamation or an intensifier, often used to express anger or frustration, and it can also mean to have sex.
Full entry → - fuck off 4/5 · Strong
It's a hostile way to tell someone to leave you alone or stop annoying you.
Full entry → - shit 3/5 · Vulgar
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.'
Full entry → - bloody hell 2/5 · Coarse
It's an exclamation expressing anger, surprise, or dismay, often used when something unexpected or frustrating happens.
Full entry → - bloody 2/5 · Coarse
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.
Full entry → - bullshit 3/5 · Vulgar
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.
Full entry → - bugger off 3/5 · Vulgar
It's a rude way to tell someone to go away. Think of it as a more colorful version of 'get lost.'
Full entry → - bastard 3/5 · Vulgar
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.
Full entry → - scumbag 3/5 · Vulgar
It's an insult aimed at someone you consider despicable or worthless. The term conveys moral contempt rather than just being a crude insult.
Full entry → - taking the piss 3/5 · Vulgar
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.
Full entry →