Why are British people so good at cussing, using vulgar language and hurling insults?

[Anonymous]

I'm just regularly amazed by the beautiful profanity that Brits come up with on a regular basis. Combinations of vulgar worlds with rare and super intelligent insults. It just rolls off their tongues too like being Shakespeares of profanity is built into their DNA from birth. Why are Brits so, soooo good at cussing and at insulting people? Is there schooling for this? I really would like to up my profanity and insulting game. Do they just teach kids swearing skills starting in primary school?

[Anonymous]

I think British people get more leeway in swearing because their accents make a lot of it *seem* more intelligent and interesting. But it isn't, inherently. There is nothing more beautiful about "bloody this, bloody that" than "f***ing this, f***ing that," except one sounds more British.

[Anonymous]

Because Brits are just uncouth and vulgar to begin with, so it’s just on-brand for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just regularly amazed by the beautiful profanity that Brits come up with on a regular basis. Combinations of vulgar worlds with rare and super intelligent insults. It just rolls off their tongues too like being Shakespeares of profanity is built into their DNA from birth. Why are Brits so, soooo good at cussing and at insulting people? Is there schooling for this? I really would like to up my profanity and insulting game. Do they just teach kids swearing skills starting in primary school?

A millennium of practice. And also, the Roman empire.

[Anonymous]

Because they believe that they are better than everyone else, and have convinced you to believe it too.

[Anonymous]

This is what my Brit DH said: it's because of their dry sense of humor, and their attempt to not seem as crass and vulgar by actually using dirty curse words.

I agree they are great at insults, but IMO, it's also their delivery. Brits definitely have their own type of humor.

[Anonymous]

I lived in the UK and France. They each had their methods. No need for guns when you can just roll down the driver side window and gesticulate and perorate richly.

[Anonymous]

Very uncouth behavior. Their country has beat them so far down they live in fight mode. Damn shame. People all over the world deserve better lives.

[Anonymous]

Because Brits aren't particularly religious.

Americans may swear a lot in movies, but not in real life.

[Anonymous]

I'm English. Its because there are no guns in our society for the most part. We're not afraid of getting shot by some rando who is insulted by our language or offended by our lack of religious piety. Like in America.

[Anonymous]

As a foreigner, it’s mostly that Americans are really bad at cussing, it’s all f**k and mother**er. Just crude and bland and no fantasy at all. I am from a region if Italy where people were legendary for what they could say. So much variety and even clever combinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a foreigner, it’s mostly that Americans are really bad at cussing, it’s all f**k and mother**er. Just crude and bland and no fantasy at all. I am from a region if Italy where people were legendary for what they could say. So much variety and even clever combinations.

French person here. Yes, Italians have quite the reputation! The gestures add a lot of drama and expression too
Americans talk with their guns. Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm English. It's because there are no guns in our society for the most part. We're not afraid of getting shot by some rando who is insulted by our language or offended by our lack of religious piety. Like in America.

^^^ And here's an example of winding people up. Something the Brits and Aussies love to do. It involves pushing all the buttons and watching the person on the other end get upset.

My personal theory, having both British and Australian relatives, is that many Brits are emotionally constipated. Cursing and winding people up are socially acceptable ways of letting things out.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean their use of the word wanker? Bc that is foul. Also Brits are famous for saying a bunch of words that have no sense or meaning. So, it probably stems from that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean their use of the word wanker? Bc that is foul. Also Brits are famous for saying a bunch of words that have no sense or meaning. So, it probably stems from that.

Brits also love them a slang term for women’s genitalia that makes American women faint. The word starts with c. It has four letters ending in t. The middle letters are u and n. That’s just run-of-the-mill vernacular in Britspeak.