19th century french swear words With this in mind, I’ve put this guide together on some of the most frequently used French swear words. ” Both Merriam-Webster and the OED have “loony” deriving later on from “lunatic” in the 19th century. [2] These intricate uses of French profanities can be difficult to master. Victorian social norms placed great importance on maintaining proper decorum and moral standards. People were more open about their expressions, and profanity was commonly used in casual conversations and writings. Apr 14, 2021 路 In my book, another great illustration of those French swear words is the old sketch from the humoristic group “Les Inconnus”. Roman swear words were generally related to sexual organs/acts and defecating. May 11, 2013 路 The flexibility of bugger reveals that the contemporary grammar of obscenity existed in the early 19th century; the ubiquity of bloody shows that 19th century people used bad words with abandon Therefore, while insults were prevalent across various social and cultural groups in the 19th century, the nature and style of insults could differ based on social standing, immediate circumstances, and prevailing biases within a particular community. Blimey: An exclamation of surprise or frustration. Many of the words used as swear words in Latin have notable cognates in modern romance languages (for instance, the Latin equivalent of "ass" is "culus", which is related to the Spanish and Italian "culo" which means the same thing. Lor!: An 1835 euphemism for Lord! Shit-fire: A hot, violent fellow (late 16th In Québec French, swear words can be combined into more powerful combinations to express extreme anger or disgust. Apr 26, 2025 路 That's why so many Victorian slang words are British, or even specifically originated in 19th-century London. And boy did that word came in handy for Dickens! Nothing sums up Mr. Some of these profanities include: 1. 9. Bloody: A term used to express anger or intensify a statement. For extra emphasis, you can combine it with Merde: Putain de merde – Bloody hell What were some commonly used curse words in the 19th century? In the 19th century, there were several commonly used curse words that may not be appropriate for all audiences. First Known Use: 14th century. Also very awkward to use in your writing without explaining and even more awkward for your character to stop and explain it. 3. Have to admit I tried to avoid it in my novel. Devil: Same as damn. Was the use of the F word prevalent in the 19th century? The use of profanity, including the F word, was prevalent in the 19th century. Lawks!: An alternative expression to saying Lord, originating in the mid 1700s. It is like the Swiss (French) army knife of swear words . If you want to sound like a French native and have a full grasp of French, understanding French curse words is key. Merdle’s character better than saying that he is, well, full of merde. They are using the three most common swear words as an interjection: “Merde, Putain, Fait chier”. Basket of Oranges A 19th-century German term for “malignant gossipers,” according to Ware. Then, as now, the primary meaning of merde was a rude word for faecal matter Oct 30, 2015 路 Find out the meaning behind 19th century terms like church bell (a chatterbox), gibface (an ugly person), meater (a coward), mutton shunter (a cop), and whooperup (a bad singer). Want to know more commonly used words or see some real examples of how these words were used?. Deuce: A late 17th century alternative to Devil. Jan 28, 2020 路 Damn: A powerful swear word used broadly but considered very naughty. 5. Mary - homosexual. Oct 20, 2016 路 But even celestial tongues have their crudities and Dickens would have known one of its most popular: merde, literally “excrement,” the French equivalent of our s-word. It also comes from vastly different sources, from lower-class Londoner and cockney terms to mariner vocabulary, tavern slang, popular literature and music at the time, current fashion trends, and other local figures of speech. com Nov 10, 2017 路 An old French favourite, merde has a secondary meaning that you may not know about, dating back to the 19th century. The combinations are endless; some people in both Quebec and francophone communities in other provinces consider mixing and matching swear words to be a Apr 19, 2017 路 “Middle English _lunatik_, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French _lunatic_, from Late Latin _lunaticus_, from Latin _luna_; from the belief that lunacy fluctuated with the phases of the moon. The 19th century was a time of heightened social tension and a flourishing of insults. He’s one of literature’s In the 19th century, the use of swear words was generally frowned upon by polite society. Jan 16, 2013 路 People usually said limb instead of the word leg. 2. Frig/frigging: Another way to say the f word. ) Low London phrase meaning “to thrash thoroughly,” possibly from the French battre à fin. The use of profanity was considered vulgar and inappropriate, especially in refined and respectable company. During this time period, explicit language was not as taboo as it is viewed today. What would surprise us about the vernacular of the common Tennessean or South Carolinian in the early 1800's? What expressions were used profanely that would seem mild or strange today? Given the lack of education and maybe sparse communities did these people use cuss and swear words similar to today's frequency? The wiki entry you linked clearly says that 'Fuck' has very old Germanic roots, but (like any word) it's meaning has morphed over time, and "The modern usage and flexibility of fuck was established by the mid to late 19th century". Enjoy! See full list on triviumpublishing. The word “Putain” is another of those multi-functional words that can be used to express sadness, anger, joy, disgust, surprise, and confusion all individually or at the same time. They’re part of French culture - in the same way that English has its swear words as well. Basically, you can use those words to express your feelings for any situation. apfncku mqotl mamdf ggbl nrplleqn qeufkrf dzimv unc vlqiaduo pukl