What Are The 7 Swear Words

You know the ones. The words that make your grandma clutch her pearls and your toddler’s eyes go wide with forbidden delight. But what exactly makes the cut for the legendary Seven Dirty Words? It’s not just a list; it’s a linguistic Mount Rushmore of pure, unfiltered shock value.

The Original Lineup

Comedian George Carlin famously codified this list back in 1972. He called it “the seven words you can never say on television.” And in a hilarious twist, the Supreme Court agreed they were unfair to broadcast.

The seven are: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. Notice anything weird? “Tits” is the quirky pin-up of the group. It’s the only one that’s technically a body part without a secondary violent meaning.

Shit, Piss, and the Garbage Chute

Let’s start with “shit.” It’s the workhorse swear—versatile, earthy, and strangely satisfying. You can be in deep shit, or you can simply call a bad movie shit. It’s the blue-collar hero of vulgarity.

Then “piss.” This one feels almost quaint now, like a bad word from a 1950s comic book. “Piss off!” sounds almost polite compared to the heavy hitters. Yet, it’s still on the list—a reminder of simpler, angrier times.

The Big Three: Fuck, Cunt, and Cocksucker

Ah, “fuck.” The nuclear warhead of English profanity. It can be a verb, a noun, an adjective, and even an infix (as in “abso-fucking-lutely”). Linguists have counted over 100 uses for it. It’s the Swiss Army knife of rage.

How do Britons feel about swearing? | YouGov

Now, “cunt.” This one has a surprisingly ancient history—from Latin cunnus—and used to be a blunt medical term. Today, it’s widely considered the most misogynistic and aggressive word in English. Use it, and you’re not just swearing; you’re launching a verbal grenade.

“Cocksucker” is a weirdly specific insult. It’s not just a slur; it’s a whole vocation as an insult. Carlin loved its bizarre, baroque quality. Imagine being so mad you have to describe someone’s preferred sexual activity—backwards.

Motherfucker and the Boob Surprise

“Motherfucker” is the ultimate compound swear—a delicious, three-syllable masterpiece. It’s so iconic that Samuel L. Jackson turned it into a form of jazz. You can whisper it in awe or shout it in fury. It’s the grand finale of insults.

Swear Word Coloring Pages Printable

And finally, “tits.” Yes, the breast. The only one that’s not a bodily function or an act. Why is it on the list? Because the 1970s FCC was terrified that hearing the word “tits” would cause a national panic. It’s the comic relief of the seven.

The Shocking Truth

Here’s the kicker: the list is outdated. In 2024, you can hear “tits” on a basic cable cooking show. “Shit” and “piss” are basically PG-13 now. What really gets bleeped today are slurs and violent threats.

But Carlin’s list matters because it proves one thing: swearing is cultural, not cosmic. The words themselves are just breath and air—until society decides they’re dynamite.

So next time you stub your toe, go ahead: pick one. Just maybe don’t say it on live TV. Or do. The FCC probably isn’t listening to this article anyway.