{"id":815,"date":"2012-04-03T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2012-04-03T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=815"},"modified":"2014-08-01T16:33:08","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T20:33:08","slug":"alternative-swear-words-in-american-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/alternative-swear-words-in-american-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternative Swear Words in American English"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the last few posts I have been addressing the use of swear words in American English. \u00a0While writing these post a phrase my mother used to say when I was younger kept popping into my head. \u00a0When I was in elementary school, an age when one really starts being exposed to swear words as they are whispered back-and-forth between giggles on the playground, \u00a0my mother used to say: “People who swear are just showing what a poor English vocabulary they have. \u00a0There are so many ways to say what you want to say without having to swear.” \u00a0As much as I hate to admit it, she is right! \u00a0There are far, far more alternative or substitute swear words (or phrases) in English than there are actual swear words. \u00a0Often these substitute swear words are phonetically related to common swear words (usually to the first sound of the swear word), but some of these substitute swear words are just random phrases that have over time become a “polite” way to swear. \u00a0Many of these words are both funny to hear and to say! \u00a0Most English speakers use alternative swear words in polite company (i.e. at work, around children and elders, around strangers or people one doesn’t know, etc.) so if you want to learn English, learning these words is important because they will come up often.<\/p>\n

I have arranged a few lists of alternative swear words in English for you below in the following way. \u00a0First, I have listed the alternative swear words that are phonetically related to real swear words. \u00a0Second, I have listed some juvenile swear word or words one most often hears young children using before they have learned real swear words. \u00a0These tend to be very mild forms of swear words. \u00a0Third, I have lists some older swear word substitutions. \u00a0These are the types of expletives you might hear your grandmother say. \u00a0Lastly, I have listed some other common expletive substitutes that are common, but that don’t make a whole lot of sense. \u00a0If you pay attention I bet you will hear at least one of these words in the next American movie or TV show you watch. \u00a0They are that common.<\/p>\n

Phonetic substitution swear words:<\/strong>
\nd*mn = darn
\ncr*p = crikey, crpity-cr@p
\nsh*t, = shot, sugar, shucks, sheesh, ship
\nf**k = f-ing, fudge, frickin’
\nJesus = geez
\nJesus Christ = Jiminy Crickit
\nh*ll = heck
\ns*n of a b*tch = son of a biscuit, son of a gun<\/p>\n

Juvenile swear words:<\/strong>
\npoo
\npoop
\nbutt<\/p>\n

Elder swear words:<\/strong>
\noh dear
\nholy moly
\njeepers
\ngood heavens
\ngosh
\nfiddlesticks
\npoppycock
\ngeez louise<\/p>\n

Other swear word substitutes:<\/strong>
\ncheese or cheese and crackers
\ndag nab it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Over the last few posts I have been addressing the use of swear words in American English. \u00a0While writing these post a phrase my mother used to say when I was younger kept popping into my head. \u00a0When I was in elementary school, an age when one really starts being exposed to swear words as…<\/p>\n

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