While you can use some swear words without causing much of a fuss, the use of others can make you come off as offensive and downright rude. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, ranked all British English swear words from mild to strongest based on how offensive speakers perceived them. They interviewed more than 200 people across the UK on how offensive they find a vast array of rude and offensive words and insults. The results are in and here is what they look like.
Mild
- Arse
- Bloody
- Bugger
- Cow
- Crap
- Damn
- Ginger
- Git
- God
- Goddam
- Jesus Christ
- Minger
- Sod-off
Medium
- Arsehole
- Balls
- Bint
- Bitch
- Bollocks
- Bullshit
- Feck
- Munter
- Pissed/pissed off
- Shit
- Son of a bitch
- Tits
Strong
- Bastard
- Beaver
- Beef curtains
- Bellend
- Bloodclaat
- Clunge
- Cock
- Dick
- Dickhead
- Fanny
- Flaps
- Gash
- Knob
- Minge
- Prick
- Punani
- P*ssy
- Snatch
- Twat
Strongest
- C*nt
- F*ck
- Motherf*cker
Ofcom didn’t just investigate swear words, the survey also included words related to race, gender and sexuality, and ethnicity which made this ofcom’s most in-depth research yet. An ofcom’s spokesperson wrote:
The findings are from new research on people’s attitudes towards potentially offensive language and gestures in broadcasting, the biggest study of its kind carried out by Ofcom.
The results are vital in supporting our broadcasting standards work to protect viewers and listeners, especially children.
