Profanity

**Profanity** is a word or action that is impolite, inappropriate, offensive, or taboo. The adjective is _profane_.

Different words can be profane to different people and in different cultures. The words that people consider profane can also change over time. Religion can also play a role in what people think of as profanity. For example, some followers of Christianity and Islam believe that swearing is a sin.

Profanities can also be called strong words, swear words, curse words, dirty words, vulgar words, strong language, obscenity, vulgarity, obscene language, vulgar language, or expletives. Using profanity can be called swearing, although this also has a normal meaning of making a "solemn promise".

## Description

A profanity usually refers to social customs, sexual content or bodily functions. In some languages, such as French, there is more profanity about religion than most other topics. This is the original meaning, from a Latin word meaning "before the temple".

### Blasphemy

Religious profanity is called blasphemy. The verb is _to blaspheme_ and the adjective is _blasphemous_. Saying “God!” or “Jesus Christ!” as an expression of surprise or annoyance is considered blasphemy in Christianity, mostly because one of the Ten Commandments says not to use God's name "in vain" (without substance or without relevance). Jesus also spoke against swearing oaths in the Gospels (such as Matthew 5:34).

## Opinions on profanity

Some people call profanity "crude," but some say that it is no cruder to say "damn" "hell" or "crap" than it is to use "hate" (a word that is about a very strong emotion, but not a swear word). People who use profanity do not always mean to make anybody feel bad, and tolerance for different forms of profanity can vary widely, from person to person. Most often, using profanity is a verbal outlet for strong feelings (usually unpleasant ones), that might otherwise cause a physical reaction. At other times, some people may use profanity as humor and sarcasm.

## Coprolalia

Coprolalia is a mental health condition that makes people use profanity constantly. It can worsen with stress. It is different from Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is actually a group of symptoms that includes coprolalia only 15% of the time.

## Examples of profanity

Several of these words come from Anglo-Saxon or old Norse names for body parts or bodily functions. They came to be thought of as profanity mostly after the Normans brought French and Latin words for them to England.

**Ass (Arse in the United Kingdom)**

- Means the buttocks.

**Asshole (Arsehole in the United Kingdom)**

- Means the anus. Also used as an insult for an unpleasant or foolish person.

**Bastard**

- A term which used to be for a child who was born to unmarried parents, now used as an insult for an unpleasant person.

**Bitch**

- A female dog. Also used as an insult for a disliked person, especially a disliked woman.

**Cock;** **Prick** **(Dick in the United States)**

- These terms refer to the penis, and/or as an insult for an unpleasant or foolish person.

**Crap;** **Shit (Shite in the United Kingdom)**

- Feces; also a verb, meaning to defecate.

**Cunt; Twat** **(Pussy in the United States)**
- A vagina. Also used as an insult for a disliked person.

**Fuck**

- A verb, meaning to have sex.

**Piss**

- Urine; also a verb, meaning to urinate.

## Profane gestures

These are mostly performed while facing another person and can be meant toward them, or about them. These gestures are considered as strong as profane words in most cases.

- Biting one's thumb
- Performed by placing the tip of a thumb under the front teeth, then pulling the thumb slightly forward, with the fingers closed. Mocks the "thumbs up" gesture. Can be taken to mean "bite me", though it predates the common use of this phrase.

- Grabbing one's own crotch
- Also an invitation to "bite me", or to perform oral sex<nowiki/>

- Pretending to give fellatio
- One pokes out a cheek with the tongue while rocking a closed hand toward the mouth, at the same time. Indicates something or someone is a waste of time.

- Pretending to masturbate
- Indicates something or someone is a waste of time, or performs poorly.

- Showing one's middle finger ("flipping the bird")
- Understood generally to mean "fuck you" or "fuck off".
- Showing a reversed "V" sign
- Understood generally to mean "fuck you" or "fuck off".

- Thumbing (or "fluting") one's nose
- Performed by placing the tip of a thumb against the tip of the nose, then wiggling the fingers. Expresses  contempt, or thinking that someone is foolish.

- "Up yours"
- One turns a forearm horizontally while swinging the other fist and forearm around it. Suggests something being shoved into a person's rectum. If the middle finger is shown, it is a stronger form of "fuck you", or a suggestion of anal sex.