What makes a swear word a swear word?

Answer 1

What makes a swear word a swear word is the fact that people consider it to be a swear word. This has a lot to do with social hangups and taboos. In English, on both sides of the Atlantic, swear words are about sex and bodily functions. It used to be that religious words were more often used as swear words, but as English-speaking people have become less fussy about religion as a whole, they have become less powerful. The phrase "Oh, my God!" is often heard on the lips of teenage girls, yet a hundred years ago this would be strong language for a sailor out with his mates. Polite women would have been shocked and offended even at the euphemism "Gosh!"

So, swear words usually break down into about four categories:

1. Words about sex. This includes sexual organs, with the female sexual organ being particularly taboo in North America.
2. Words about bodily functions, especially defecation. Whenever stuff leaves the human body there is the opportunity for a swear word.
3. Words connected with religion. My favourite is "chalice", considered to be a swear word in Quebec.
4. Words and phrases derogatory to family members, especially mothers. If you say someone is "the son of a camel" it is pretty insulting not only to the guy but to his parents. In places where high value is placed on filial obligations, such phrases have a lot of bite. The most common word of this kind is derived from the mother-insult found in the Shakespearean insult "the son and heir of a mongrel bitch."

Answer 2

Swear words are words that are used to hurt or belittle others. There are the usual swear words, which I won't quote here, and acceptable words that can be turned into swear words, like mother, pig, hole, or female dog.

Answer 3

A word becomes a swear word when it is considered offensive, derogatory, nasty, mean, or a word intended to cause bullying. Besides being offensive, most swear words cause hurt feelings and anger, and interestingly, many people use swear words when they feel angry. In that respect, the person who swears has not learned how to communicate effectively or how to appropriately talk about their feelings.

It is just as easy to say "I feel angry" instead of calling someone a name. Other ways to express irritation or anger include:

• I feel irritated.
• I feel angry.
• I feel hurt.