Have you ever wondered how to say curse word in another language?
People often search this phrase out of curiosity, for storytelling, understanding foreign films, or to avoid accidentally using one!
In this article, we’re exploring how different cultures refer to the idea of a curse word — such as a bad word, insult, or profanity.
Instead of listing actual rude words, we focus on the generic translation for the term curse word, so you can talk about the concept without being offensive.
You’ll also learn how to pronounce it and use it in a sentence — perfect for travelers, writers, or learners.
🌍 How to Say Curse Word in 70 Different Languages
Each line includes:
Language (🇨🇳) – [Translation] | Pronunciation: [English-style]
Example sentence.
- Spanish (🇪🇸) – Palabrota | pa-la-BRO-ta
She shouted a palabrota when she dropped her phone. - French (🇫🇷) – Gros mot | groh moh
Never say a gros mot in front of children. - German (🇩🇪) – Schimpfwort | shimpf-vort
He used a schimpfwort during the argument. - Italian (🇮🇹) – Parolaccia | pa-ro-LACH-cha
That’s a strong parolaccia you just used! - Portuguese (🇵🇹) – Palavrão | pa-la-VRAO
He muttered a palavrão under his breath. - Dutch (🇳🇱) – Scheldwoord | skheld-vohrt
That’s a rude scheldwoord to say. - Russian (🇷🇺) – Ругань (Rugan’) | ROO-gan
Rugan’ is not allowed in school. - Arabic (🇸🇦) – شتيمة (Shatīmah) | sha-TEE-mah
He apologized for the shatīmah. - Hindi (🇮🇳) – गाली (Gāli) | gaa-lee
Saying a gāli in public is rude. - Urdu (🇵🇰) – گالی (Gāli) | gaa-lee
He used a gāli and felt bad afterward. - Chinese (Mandarin) (🇨🇳) – 骂人话 (Màrén huà) | mah-ren hwa
Avoid using màrén huà at work. - Japanese (🇯🇵) – 悪口 (Warukuchi) | wah-roo-koo-chee
Warukuchi is not polite in Japanese culture. - Korean (🇰🇷) – 욕 (Yok) | yohk
He screamed a yok while driving. - Turkish (🇹🇷) – Küfür | koo-FOOR
Küfür is common in heated debates. - Greek (🇬🇷) – Βρισιά (Vrisia) | vree-SYA
Using vrisia isn’t professional. - Thai (🇹🇭) – คำด่า (Kham dā) | kham-da
He whispered a kham dā quietly. - Hebrew (🇮🇱) – קללה (Klala) | kla-LA
She said a klala and regretted it. - Polish (🇵🇱) – Przekleństwo | psheh-KLEN-stvo
That was a loud przekleństwo! - Swedish (🇸🇪) – Svordom | svoor-dome
He used a svordom when he stubbed his toe. - Norwegian (🇳🇴) – Banneord | ban-eh-oord
Banneord aren’t allowed here. - Finnish (🇫🇮) – Kirosana | kee-ro-sa-na
He muttered a kirosana softly. - Danish (🇩🇰) – Bandeord | ban-deh-ohrd
That’s a common bandeord in Denmark. - Hungarian (🇭🇺) – Káromkodás | kaa-rom-ko-dash
Káromkodás is frowned upon in meetings. - Czech (🇨🇿) – Nadávka | na-DAAV-ka
He blurted out a nadávka. - Romanian (🇷🇴) – Înjurătură | uhn-zhoo-rah-TOO-rah
Don’t use an înjurătură with elders. - Bulgarian (🇧🇬) – Псувня (Psuvnya) | psoo-v-nya
One loud psuvnya and everyone stared. - Ukrainian (🇺🇦) – Лайка (Laika) | LIE-ka
He said a laika in frustration. - Serbian (🇷🇸) – Псовка (Psovka) | pso-v-ka
Psovka is common in street arguments. - Croatian (🇭🇷) – Psovka | pso-v-ka
A single psovka ruined the vibe. - Bosnian (🇧🇦) – Psovka | pso-v-ka
He whispered a psovka. - Persian (Farsi) (🇮🇷) – فحش (Fohsh) | fohsh
Using fohsh can lead to trouble. - Pashto (🇦🇫) – کنځل (Kanzhal) | kun-zhal
Avoid kanzhal in formal gatherings. - Malay (🇲🇾) – Kata makian | ka-ta ma-kee-an
He let out a kata makian. - Indonesian (🇮🇩) – Kata-kata kasar | ka-ta ka-ta ka-sar
Don’t use kata-kata kasar at work. - Tagalog (🇵🇭) – Mura | moo-rah
He said a mura in traffic. - Vietnamese (🇻🇳) – Lời chửi | loy choo-ee
He apologized for the lời chửi. - Swahili (🇰🇪) – Matusi | ma-too-see
He got angry and used a matusi. - Zulu (🇿🇦) – Isithuko | ee-see-too-ko
He was warned not to say an isithuko. - Xhosa (🇿🇦) – Isiqalekiso | ee-see-kha-leh-kee-so
That is a strong isiqalekiso. - Amharic (🇪🇹) – ስድብ ቃል (Sidib Kal) | see-deeb kal
Using sidib kal is disrespectful. - Yoruba (🇳🇬) – Òrò òdì | oh-roh oh-dee
He muttered an òrò òdì. - Igbo (🇳🇬) – Asi | ah-see
Avoid using asi in public. - Hausa (🇳🇬) – Zagi | zah-gee
Zagi is considered rude. - Irish (🇮🇪) – Mionn mallaithe | mee-un mal-a-ha
He used a mionn mallaithe by mistake. - Welsh (🇬🇧) – Rhegfair | rheg-vire
One rhegfair made her laugh. - Scottish Gaelic (🏴) – Mionn | mee-un
He said a mionn during the game. - Icelandic (🇮🇸) – Blótsyrði | blowt-seer-thi
Blótsyrði are rare in Iceland. - Latvian (🇱🇻) – Lamu vārds | la-moo vahrds
He whispered a lamu vārds. - Lithuanian (🇱🇹) – Keiksmažodis | kayks-ma-zho-dis
That’s a rude keiksmažodis. - Estonian (🇪🇪) – Ropendamine | roh-pen-da-mee-neh
Avoid ropendamine in public. - Arabic (🇸🇦) – كلمة بذيئة | Pronunciation: kalima badheeya
Don’t use any kalima badheeya in public. - Spanish (🇪🇸) – palabrota | Pronunciation: pah-lah-BRO-tah
He got scolded for saying a palabrota. - French (🇫🇷) – gros mot | Pronunciation: groh moh
C’est un gros mot, fais attention ! - German (🇩🇪) – Schimpfwort | Pronunciation: shimpf-vort
Bitte benutze kein Schimpfwort hier. - Italian (🇮🇹) – parolaccia | Pronunciation: pah-roh-LAH-chah
I bambini non devono dire una parolaccia. - Portuguese (🇵🇹) – palavrão | Pronunciation: pah-lah-VRAO(n)
Ele disse um palavrão na frente dos pais. - Russian (🇷🇺) – ругательство | Pronunciation: roo-GA-tyel-stvo
Это было плохое ругательство. - Japanese (🇯🇵) – 悪口 | Pronunciation: waruguchi
彼は悪口を言った。 - Korean (🇰🇷) – 욕설 | Pronunciation: yok-seol
그는 욕설을 사용했어요. - Chinese (Mandarin) (🇨🇳) – 脏话 | Pronunciation: zāng huà
别说脏话！ - Hindi (🇮🇳) – गाली | Pronunciation: gaa-lee
कृपया गाली मत दो। - Urdu (🇵🇰) – گالی | Pronunciation: gaa-lee
گالی دینا بری بات ہے۔ - Bengali (🇧🇩) – গালি | Pronunciation: gaa-lee
সে গালি দিয়েছে। - Turkish (🇹🇷) – küfür | Pronunciation: koo-FUR
Lütfen küfür etme. - Greek (🇬🇷) – βρισιά | Pronunciation: vree-SYA
Μην λες βρισιές στο σχολείο. - Polish (🇵🇱) – przekleństwo | Pronunciation: psheh-KLEN-stvo
To było przekleństwo. - Dutch (🇳🇱) – scheldwoord | Pronunciation: skheld-vort
Gebruik geen scheldwoord! - Swedish (🇸🇪) – svordom | Pronunciation: svor-dohm
Det där var en svordom. - Danish (🇩🇰) – bandeord | Pronunciation: ban-deh-ohr
Han sagde et bandeord. - Norwegian (🇳🇴) – banneord | Pronunciation: ban-neh-ord
Ikke bruk banneord i klassen. - Finnish (🇫🇮) – kirosana | Pronunciation: kee-roh-sah-nah
Se oli kirosana. - Hebrew (🇮🇱) – קללה | Pronunciation: klah-lah
אל תגיד קללה ליד ילדים. - Thai (🇹🇭) – คำหยาบ | Pronunciation: kham-yaap
อย่าใช้คำหยาบนะคะ - Vietnamese (🇻🇳) – lời chửi thề | Pronunciation: luh-ee choo-ee thay
Anh ấy nói lời chửi thề. - Indonesian (🇮🇩) – kata-kata kasar | Pronunciation: kah-tah kah-tah kah-sar
Jangan gunakan kata-kata kasar. - Malay (🇲🇾) – perkataan kesat | Pronunciation: per-kah-tan keh-saht
Dia guna perkataan kesat. - Filipino (🇵🇭) – mura | Pronunciation: moo-rah
Bawal ang mura dito. - Romanian (🇷🇴) – înjurătură | Pronunciation: uhn-zhoo-rah-TOO-rah
Nu spune o înjurătură. - Hungarian (🇭🇺) – káromkodás | Pronunciation: KAH-rom-ko-dahsh
A káromkodás nem helyes. - Czech (🇨🇿) – nadávka | Pronunciation: nah-DAHV-kah
Nepoužívej nadávky! - Slovak (🇸🇰) – nadávka | Pronunciation: nah-DAHV-kah
To bola nadávka. - Ukrainian (🇺🇦) – лайка | Pronunciation: LYE-kah
Не вживай лайки! - Persian/Farsi (🇮🇷) – فحش | Pronunciation: fahsh
فحش نده! - Pashto (🇦🇫) – ښکنځل | Pronunciation: shkun-zul
ښکنځل مه کوه. - Kazakh (🇰🇿) – балағат сөз | Pronunciation: bah-lah-gaht sooz
Балағат сөз айту дұрыс емес. - Swahili (🇰🇪) – matusi | Pronunciation: mah-too-see
Usitumie matusi. - Zulu (🇿🇦) – isithuko | Pronunciation: ee-see-THOO-koh
Ungasebenzisi isithuko. - Xhosa (🇿🇦) – isiqhulo | Pronunciation: ee-see-KHOO-loh
Isiqhulo asamkelekile. - Igbo (🇳🇬) – okwu nsọala | Pronunciation: oh-kwoo n-soh-ah-lah
Ejila okwu nsọala biko. - Yoruba (🇳🇬) – ọrọ ẹlẹgbin | Pronunciation: oh-roh eh-leh-gbeen
Ma sọ ọrọ ẹlẹgbin naa. - Amharic (🇪🇹) – ርኩስ ቃል | Pronunciation: rekus qal
አትናገር ርኩስ ቃል። - Tamil (🇱🇰) – சிணைச்சொல் | Pronunciation: chi-nai-chol
அது சிணைச்சொல். - Telugu (🇮🇳) – తిట్టు పదం | Pronunciation: thittu padam
దయచేసి తిట్టు పదాలు వాడకండి.
🌟 Conclusion
No matter where you go in the world, the word “curse word” always reminds us to speak kindly and respectfully.
Oliver Grant is a passionate American author known for crafting insightful and engaging content that inspires readers worldwide. With a strong background in creative writing and a deep interest in contemporary literature, Oliver has built a reputation for delivering thought-provoking narratives that resonate with a modern audience.
Throughout his career, Oliver has consistently blended intellectual depth with relatable storytelling, making complex ideas accessible to readers from all walks of life. His writing style is both elegant and approachable, allowing him to connect meaningfully with his audience.
When he’s not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring new ideas, reading across diverse genres, and mentoring aspiring writers. His dedication to the craft and his ability to present fresh perspectives have earned him a loyal following.
Oliver Grant is the author of several acclaimed books, including “The Creative Mindset,” “Stories That Connect,” and “The Modern Writer’s Journey.” Each of these works reflects his commitment to empowering readers and fellow writers through creativity and purposeful storytelling.