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Bloody hell, or How to swear in English to be mistaken for a cultured person

Swearing is an integral part of any language. And even if you are not going to use them in life, you need to study and know them.

But there are situations when one cannot do without a “strong word”. And in order not to lose your image of a cultured person, we offer you a whole collection of “mild curses” - easy curses and idiomatic expressions in English, which are not considered mats, but at the same time help to express the whole palette of emotions. Go!



As always, a little boring theory


In English, all existing curses are divided into 4 categories according to the level of rudeness:

  • Mild (lungs) - in fact, these are not curses, but expressive expressions. They can be used, but the main thing is not to bend.
  • Medium (medium) - formally, this is already a curse, but no one will beat you for using them.
  • Strong () — — , . .
  • Strongest ( ) — , .

“Mild curses” cannot be called complete curses. It is difficult for them to offend anyone - primarily because they are in the vast majority of cases directed not at the person, but at the situation.

By the way, we take words not from the bulldozer. Ofcom, a British provider, conducted a study of swear words and rude expressions in 2016 . Based on the opinions of over 200 people, the experts compiled a gradation of obscene words by rudeness. In the "easy" category fell 13 words. We will consider the most common of them.

And do not forget to write unknown words and phrases in the ED Words dictionary. With it, you can learn vocabulary easier and faster. By the way, we give the Khabrovsk citizens a whole month of premium access to ED Words. Just enter the mildcurses promo code here or right in the ED Words app .

Mild curses: examples and how to use




Damn - damn it, damn it, damn it

Probably the most harmless word, which almost exactly coincides with the Russian "damn" in rudeness. This is not a mat, not even a rude expression, but just an emotional word.

They use it either to emotionally emphasize a statement, or to express a palette of emotions that you feel.

You're damn right! - You are damn right!
Too damn many things could go wrong. “Damn a lot of things that could go wrong.”
Just get it off me damn it! “Just take this thing off of me, damn it!”

Most often damn is used in two word forms. As an adjective, which enhances the meaning of the following word: for example, “damn right” - “damn right”, or in the phrase “damn it”, which almost exactly matches the expression “damn it.”

A slightly rougher counterpart to damn is goddamn. The rest of the meanings are completely the same.



Bloody - bloody, per. fucking fucking fucking.

Truly British expression - you rarely hear it from Americans. In general, it means the same as "damn".

You bloody scientists think you know everything. “You damn scientists think you know everything.”
Who the bloody hell was that? “Who the hell was that?”
I had a bloody good time. “I had a damn good time.”

Separately, it is worth mentioning the bloody hell. The phrase in meaning and use is very reminiscent of the Russian "your mother", but much less rude. So less rude that it can be used without problems even in films designed for a general audience. That's like "yo-mine", only "your mother."

Ron Weasley from Harry Potter was very fond of that expression. Oooh very strong:




Arse - ass, fool, ass.

Formally, “arse” is a “donkey”, but because of the similarity with the word “ass”, it is used as a soft form of “ass”. Fut ha, what a pun! Although the Americans spit on everything and they use both words equally and consider them equally rude.

“Arse” is considered a rough word, but far from obscene. And even to curses it can be attributed with a very big stretch.

Rid me of that pompous arse. “Spare me that smug moron.”
We saved your arse from jail. “We saved your ass from prison.”
Something tells me it is so much arse. - Something tells me that this is some kind of crap.

What is interesting, if “arse” is used in the meaning of “moron”, then it is better not to apply it to the interlocutor - it is considered rude. But if as an “ass”, then it is considered softer than “ass”.



Cow is a cow.

If you do not call this word a woman, as it is now fashionable to say, “plus-size”, then the word is not at all offensive.

It is used most often in the phrase “holy cow”, which expresses a high degree of surprise. In terms of meaning, it most closely resembles the Russian “Christmas tree-sticks” or “yo-mine”.

Holy cow, look at what they're doing. - Christmas trees, sticks, see what they do.
Holy cow, I'm in the movie! - E-mine, I'm on TV!
I'm sorry for being a cow. “I'm sorry I was so dumb.”


It is interesting that if the word “cow” is used by a woman in her address, then it turns into self-irony, if a man addressed to a man - into a rude joke, and if a man addressed to a woman - into a terrible insult. So be careful there, do not miss.



Jesus - Lord!

It is, of course, difficult to call swearing. But here the nature of the rudeness of expression will completely depend on intonation. “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” is most often just an emotional exclamation. But in some cases, it will enhance the negative connotation of exclamation.

Jesus, the day I had. - Lord, this is my day.
Jesus, I don't know half the people here. “God, I don’t even know half of the people here.”
Jesus Christ, is nothing sacred? “Lord Jesus, do you have anything sacred at all?”


The main reason why this exclamation is considered rude lies precisely in religion. “Do not remember the name of the Lord in vain,” and all that. But this absolutely does not hinder the use of “Jesus Christ” to the right and to the left - just like in God they use “God” or “Oh Lord”. True, in Russian this is considered a neutral expression, but in English it is still rude.



Bugger - asshole, muddy type, moron, bug.

And although the British have defined this word as one of the “soft” curses, it seems to us that its potential is much greater.

In most cases, “bugger” translates as “moron”, “muddy type” or “asshole”. But if you combine it with stronger curses, the meaning changes a little: “fagot”, “asshole”, “asshole” - these are the possible meanings of the word.

If “bugger” is used in context as the only gross word, without excessively gross intonation, then its grossness is reduced.

You know what a nosy old bugger he is. — , , .
She sold it to some bugger called Evans. — - .
Then you bugger off for two months to New Zealand. — , , .


Quite often, the British use the expression "old bugger", which in translation means "old grunt." Specifically, it is considered the least rude. A kind of friendly banter, nothing more.

As for the rest of the meanings of “bugger”, everything is decided by context and intonation. It is clear that if you shout “Where is this fucking bugger !?”, the word will be difficult to translate in a neutral way.

However, as a curse "bugger" is not too popular. So, most likely, you will hear more rude curses, but specifically this is not.



Crap - nonsense, rubbish, rubbish, nonsense, crap.


The word carries a whole palette of meanings, so context and intonation are extremely important. It can mean both neutral “bullshit” and rude “shit”.

Often it is used as an insertion word at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize the emotionality of a statement. Then its meaning is most neutral - something like a Russian “damn”. But if you use holy crap, then the degree of rudeness instantly rises. Be careful.

Fine, just don't overrate that love crap. “Well, just don't overestimate this love bullshit.”
Holy crap, we did it. - God damn it, we did it.
Some people say that's crap. - Some say that this is nonsense.


In the USA, the word "crap" is considered coarser than in Britain. That is, in the USA “crap” will be synonymous with “shit”, in Britain it is closer to the meaning of “rubbish”. There is nothing forbidden and obscene here, but the British use it somehow more willingly.

Substitutes matyugov: the whole art of creating words


Separately, it is worth mentioning the "substitutes for curses" - words and expressions that are similar to curses in sound or spelling, but in fact they are not.

For example, “bullspit” translates as “bull spit,” but that’s not the point. Such nonsense just hints at the famous bullshit curse. On the one hand, everything is dignified and cultural - no one swears, but on the other, everyone understands the message.

There are actually quite a few such "substitutes". You can use “ship” instead of “shit” or “frack” or “fudge” instead of “fuck”. It’s the same as saying “chewed mole” or “brotherly pike” in Russian. Everything is censored, but the meaning is crystal clear.

Want to learn more about curses? Watch the video from May.


And of course, learn English so that in communicating with native speakers you can distinguish friendly teasing and veiled insult. You will definitely need this skill, we guarantee you.

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