cunt

The Slovene equivalent of this word, pizda, is used on a daily basis, far more than the common word for the male organ, kurec. Everyone says "pizda", even sometimes on television. It serves the same purpose as the American "fuck" or "shit" in sentences like, "Oh fuck, I forgot my keys!" Even women say "pizda" without batting an eye. I was shocked when I first moved here because I kept translating the word in my head, but now I'm used to it, though I never say it myself.

And all their damn fool questions 'tell me Peter,
what do you write about?' (cunts like you, mate)...

- Peter Reading, Soirée, from The Prison Cell & Barrel Mystery, 1976

See also coynte.

Sweetest taboo? Maybe English speaking world just doesn't know how to use the word imaginatively, like for example the Italians use figa. Or The Spanish use coño. Not to mention The Finns and their favourite word, the v-word vittu.

Other variations: cunte, counte, Middle English; kut, The Netherlands; kunta, Old Norse; queynthe Middle English; qwim, sixteenth century England; chuint, Ireland; kus, Arabic & Hebrew.

Some etymologists think it derives from words, queen, country or cunning - cunnende. What it comes to the root, cu, it is said to signify 'quintessential physical femininity´.

Catherine Blackledge: The story of V.

Not a listener of the Savage Lovecast are you lalala?

I find the notion that the word 'cunt' is considered offensive bizarre. Cunts are warm, deep & delightful - you should only call someone a cunt if they have these characteristics.

Also related to coney or cunny.

Not only quaint, but also kind and kenning - the roots give new meaning to the branches.

Definitely one of my favorite words. Even today, where words that were once considered taboo and deeply offensive are used, in many instances, in our day to day language, the word cunt has managed to retain its shock value, and can still illicit a very visceral reaction.

Yet this shocking word is cognate with quaint. Odd, eh?

What a fantastic, descriptive word. I don't get to use it very often, but it is an absolute pleasure when I do.

Good note Pathar. I can't think of a word in the English language which is more shocking, or offensive.

I like that this is one of the last few words in the language that can really shock people.