'Twat'is not a bad word in the UK - Easy A (2010) Discussion

[–] Spielburger 13 years ago

There's already a thread about this on the first page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/board/thread/191212736

Yes, it's offensive in the UK (particularly to females), and yes, you'd probably get into trouble if you said it in class. If you called someone that, I'd expect a strong likelihood that you'd get hit in response.
Fashions change, but for a lot of people (particularly older generations), it's only one small step down from the C-word.

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[–] madman_salv 13 years ago

I call everyone it, and people call everyone it for a joke. :/
We say it in class, the teachers have heard us (when we were in school), and we were in a Catholic school. In front of a normally strict teacher, and other teachers.

I guess it's where in the UK yo come from. Me and my dad call each other it all the time.

My Dad will tell me off for using *beep* *beep* and especially the C word (which I hate), but twat is fine. Hmm

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Spielburger 13 years ago

For the record, here's the most recent UK survey I could find (2010):
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/tv-research/offensi ve-lang.pdf

From P92:
Group 4: Medium acceptability to some/lower acceptability to others
'Cock', 'Twat'
The words 'cock' and 'twat' were usually grouped together, either towards the middle or lower end of the scale. Many thought that the words were often used in a lighthearted manner and not usually in a way which is likely to cause offence.

However, there were some participants who found the words 'cock' and 'twat' more
offensive, particularly parents and older people (aged 55+). Some said that this was because of the sexual connotations of these words. In particular, some participants said that 'twat' was as offensive as the word 'cxxx' in some areas, whereas some participants interpreted it as a strong term for 'idiot'. Some participants, particularly those with older children, were concerned about their children hearing this type of language.

The summary of earlier (2005) research puts "twat" in the middle category of swear words, classed as "Offensive to some groups/polarising" (P251). It does rather seem to vary depending on location and age-group, but ultimately it really depends on how it's used: there's a big difference between friends throwing it around "in a lighthearted manner", and someone using it as a direct insult as in the film.

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[–] madman_salv 13 years ago

It's weird.
I would never call someone it as an insult as I genuinely don't think it's a offensive word. Everyone I know use it as another word for idiot, numpty etc...

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[–] twob_ornot 13 years ago

Thanks. That's really interesting in itself. Contrast that with the US's FCC that apparently doesn't conduct surveys, instead just relying on bureaucrats' ideas of what is "obscenity, indecency and profanity".

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] G-olg 13 years ago

I just presumed it was on the c-bomb level in the US. But I'm sorry what school in the UK do you get in to trouble for swearing, at my school the teachers were just thankful that was all you were doing.

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[–] Karnivore 13 years ago

Errr, you wouldn't get in trouble for saying twat here, in fact, I guarentee every UK resident says it at least once a day.

Using the 'c word' is alot worse, and would get you in trouble in class. American's who swear make me laugh. It doesn't sound right.

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[–] Spielburger 13 years ago

I guarentee every UK resident says it at least once a day.

Blatantly untrue.
As stated further up, the most recent Ofcom survey found its acceptability to be moderate to low: it's generally a medium-level swear word, but some groups (e.g. women) consider it more offensive than others.

I agree that the "C" word is considered more offensive, though.

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[–] Natalilly 13 years ago

I rarely say twat and I'm from County Durham. Round here, twat isn't as offensive as c-u-next-tuesday, but it's higher on the scale than, say, calling somebody a bastard or a bugger. I'd say the word twat in front of my parents, but not my grandparents.

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[–] DeepAndMeaningful 12 years ago

It is true it is a slag word for vagina, so that offends some people. It's also just a term for being bad or an idiot, so not so offensive in that way. I guess some people don't particularly like it, and some people don't see anything wrong at all. Just depends on the person. But generally, I'd say it's around the level of cock or bloody.

I can't judge it by whether I say it, because I say every swear word under the sun. I say the 'c-bomb' in front of my parents without batting an eyelid. I'm British, I like to swear, we have the best swear words.

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[–] ambeezy21 12 years ago

I don't think it's a bad word in the US and honestly I never hear anyone say it here so when I heard it on Easy A I didn't expect her to get in trouble.

honey badger don't care.

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[–] weirdwombat 12 years ago

Depends how it's used and how it's taken, as others have said it has two meaning a) strong term for idiot and b) slang for female genitals. To be honest growing up (in UK) people only seemed to use it for the former so it wasn't the worst insult ever

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[–] RyeTheVampSlayer1982 12 years ago

In the original script she called a C U Next Tuesday. But they wouldn't let them use it in a PG-13 movie because the rating board in America is stupid..

Twat was allowed to be said so it really isn't THAT bad a word, but she gets in trouble for it because a. It's a plot point b. it's name calling in class which isn't called for

-Rye
Look!www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/board/thread/132505868?d=132505868&p= 1

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[–] happyphantom9 12 years ago

That's what I thought. When I watched this scene, I was baffled by everyone's reactions, and the fact that she got sent to the principal (who went on about what a horrible word it was). I was thinking, this is what would've happened if she had said c u n t and figured that was probably the original word in the script but of course, they had to censor it.

Changing it to "twat" just makes it lose the effect and sound silly. Especially since twat and tramp are on the same level, it seems ridiculous as many have pointed out that the other girl (who STARTED it and called her a TRAMP first) didn't get in trouble.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] BrianAwesome 12 years ago

No. You'd get away with it unless your teacher is some creepy dude that's been hitting on you all year. (like the guy in movie)

I got nothing.

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[–] Formerly_dead_cops 12 years ago

erm twat means vag

it might be commonly used over here but that doesnt mean its not a bad word

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[–] madder-den-a-hatter 12 years ago

Twat is a bad word in England, atleast it is in Yorkshire. If a child said it, you wouldn't congratulate them on it.

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[–] Charlotte_720 12 years ago

Twat is a bad word in England, atleast it is in Yorkshire. If a child said it, you wouldn't congratulate them on it.

Lol!! Think it differs the UK over - in Birmingham it's as bad as the c-word but in Cumbria it's commonplace and inoffensive.

Also I would congratulate a child if they used it well in a sentence. For example if they conjugated the verb 'to twat' lol

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