How to Swear Around the World

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Some taboo language is still strong language, even if we don’t think of it as ‘swearing’ – racial epithets, insults based on disabilities and sexual orientation – but some relates to things you avoid naming because of their power. Sex, though desired, is – in the angry, aggressive part of the mind – a dominating act, something performed upon a weaker recipient. Once you've purchased this item, simply look out for the Feefo feedback form, that'll be sent close to the estimated arrival date and then submit your thoughts to appear here!

This essential phrasebook collects the most colourful, explicit, and outrageous ways to tell people off in every part of the world. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. Covering all topics from the science behind the munchies (it's very real), the botanical link between beer and weed, and why smoking cannabis makes Pink Floyd sound so damned good. Animals can be dirty too, and are used in many insults, but animals are not normally near the morality-based social control structures, so they’re not usually what we think of as swear words – except when they come from veiled references, as with Mandarin guītóu (turtle’s head, standing in for penis). Our word ‘bear’ comes from a word for ‘brown’ that was used in place of the ‘true’ name of the animal; nobody wanted to say its name lest it appear.

As strong as vittu is in Finnish, however, French con and its derivatives connard and connasse are no stronger than English’s 'jerk'.

I get the feeling this started as a "fun" idea for a project which rapidly became more work than the author expected.

First Name * Please enter a First Name Please enter a valid First Name, the maximum length is 50 characters. Likewise, mental deficiency is widely looked down on, but while insults the equivalent of ‘idiot’ are common enough, it’s only in a culture such as Japanese that it makes one of the most popular ‘bad words’ ( baka). Strong language often involves naming things you desire but aren’t supposed to desire; at the very least, it aims to upset power structures that may seem a bit too arbitrary. I understand you will use my personal data to improve services and send me marketing communications You must consent to the storage and use of your personal data as laid out in our privacy notice. It was interesting to see what groups of words are used for swearing but that's all what you can get from this book.

Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. Well you don’t want to be that person who always goes abroad and can’t communicate with the locals, do you?If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter .