What does “カス” mean in English?
It’s an insult that implies someone is worthless or insignificant. The literal translation refers to the dregs or residue left behind, which adds a layer of disdain.
Literally “dregs”
You’d use it as a direct insult, similar to calling someone a 'piece of shit' in English. It carries a moderate weight and is commonly used in confrontational contexts.
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Related Japanese words
ろくでなし
3/5 · Vulgarrokudenashi
This refers to someone who is seen as worthless or irresponsible, essentially calling them a good-for-nothing. It carries a moral judgment about their character.
この野郎
3/5 · Vulgarkono yarō
It's an insult that translates to 'you bastard,' aimed at someone in a confrontational manner. The literal translation is 'this fellow,' but that's not how it's used.
クズ
3/5 · Vulgarkuzu
It means calling someone scum or worthless. The literal translation refers to scraps or waste, emphasizing their low value.
クソガキ
3/5 · Vulgarkusogaki
It's a coarse insult aimed at a brat or an annoying child. Literally, it translates to 'shit brat.'
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via 4troDev/profanity.csv (MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.