New study reveals which nations are the worst online swearers—where do we land?

When it comes to colourful language, Australia’s reputation certainly precedes it.

But how do we really stack up against the rest of the English-speaking world online?

Recent research has uncovered some unexpected findings about where Australians fit in the global swear-o-meter.


Stone the flamin’ crows! Despite our Aussie reputation for colourful language, a new study revealed we are not the worst offenders online when it comes to swearing.

Researchers believe there might be a practical explanation for this surprising result.

The University of Queensland analysed more than 1.7 billion words of online content from 20 English-speaking countries, searching for 597 vulgar terms.


image1.png
Aussies fall short in global swearing study. Image source: Pexels/Anna Shvets


Using computational linguistics, the team identified which nation’s people swear the most in online spaces.

Although Australians are known for their enthusiastic use of profanity, we ranked only third in online swearing, behind the US and Britain.

‘Some may find it disappointing,’ said Martin Schweinberger, the lead researcher from the university’s School of Languages and Cultures.

‘Australians really see vulgarity, swearing and slang as part of our culture – we’re very invested in it.’

Swearing has long been normalised in Australian everyday speech and even appears in tourism marketing.


For example, model Lara Bingle famously fronted the campaign featuring the phrase ‘so where the bloody hell are you?’


Source: Youtube/TourismAustraliaUSA​


That 2006 advertisement was banned in Canada, removed from TV and billboards in Britain, and censored in Singapore.

An older campaign with the line ‘If you drink, then drive, you’re a bloody idiot’ has been running since the 1980s as a national road safety message.

Schweinberger suggested that Australians’ lower online swearing might stem from a more conservative approach on the internet.

He believed Aussies may prefer to save their swearing for face-to-face interactions.

‘Our study suggests Australians might still live up to our popular image of having unusually rich and inventive ‘bad’ language,’ he said.

‘Especially thanks to our very public and colourful airing of swear words – this is something that’s often remarked upon by overseas visitors to the country.’


This research was the first large-scale study to compare offensive language use across English-speaking nations.

Schweinberger noted the importance of understanding social context in language use for immigrants and language learners.

‘For language learners and immigrants, knowing how to adjust their language to different social situations is just as important as mastering grammar or vocabulary,’ he said.

‘Being able to understand when it’s appropriate to use humour, informal expressions, or even mild vulgarity can make a big difference in feeling included, building relationships, and navigating everyday life in a new culture.’

‘It’s not just about speaking correctly–it’s about speaking appropriately.’

The findings were published in the science journal Lingua.


In a previous story, we took a look at how Australians stacked up on the global happiness scale.

That ranking also raised a few eyebrows for where we landed.

If you missed it, it’s worth a read.

Key Takeaways
  • Australia ranked third in online swearing behind the US and Britain.
  • Researchers found Aussies may prefer swearing in person over using it online.
  • Profanity is deeply embedded in Australian culture and advertising history.
  • The study showed understanding when to use informal language is vital for social integration.

With Aussies holding back online but letting loose in person, do you think we’re just being polite on the internet—or saving the good stuff for the pub? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 

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I've noticed a lot of young people using cuss words in normal conversation, even a couple of my kids.

I only swear when I'm really angry ( which isn't often) or if I really hurt my self.

I remember my son once asked me what makes a swear word bad as it's just a word ? I actually thought what a great question and had me thinking 🤔

Basically it's society that chose what words were not ok to say.

It's the same as the word death or anything associated with death, some cultures look at that word as a swear word.

I feel there are much more hurtful and powerful words than swear words eg Hateful and Hurtful words ... hate,stupid,idiot my pet hate is anyone using the word Retard

There is not one entity that dictates which words are wrong or inappropriate. Instead, societal consensus, cultural norms, and individual sensitivities determine what is considered unacceptable language.

Here's a more detailed look:
  • Societal Consensus:
    The majority of people in a particular society or community agree on what words or phrases are offensive or hurtful. This consensus is often shaped by cultural values, religious beliefs, and historical contex
  • Context and Audience:
    The appropriateness of language is highly dependent on the situation and who is involved. What might be acceptable in a casual conversation among friends could be completely inappropriate in a formal setting or when speaking to someone of authority.

    Individual Sensitivity:
    People have varying levels of sensitivity to certain words, and what might offend one person might not bother another.

    Taboo and Historical Roots:
    Some words or topics are considered taboo due to historical reasons or beliefs about their power or association with negativity. For example, some cultures have avoided speaking certain words related to death or disease out of fear of invoking them.


 
I must be a prude, oh I swear but mine is mild compared to what I hear.............My Father never swore in front of a woman out of respect for them ......he heard me swear outside the house once and said "You know Tone people who swear do so because they have a limited vocabulary" and yep it stuck and when I swear B Hell and Shite etc I think yep I do have a limited but all the foul words I think are an insult to women and I hate hearing it, I pull my kids up as adult as they are eldest is close to 60 lol ........but most of these foul words refer to women's parts or the act of sex .............could this be part of the reason women are treated poorly............and why the young women are using the words too because they have lost self respect........I believe if you Respect someone you do them no harm truly if respect for each other is not taught then I rear for our world
 
We were brought up that swearing is wrong. I never heard my parents swear. I sometimes do quietly to myself and sometimes aloud, but these are very mild compared to today. I have noticed that over the years, on TV, that there is a lot more swearing than ever. I was surprised the other day when watching "Strife" on Foxtel that Asher Keddie's character used the "c" word. I was surprised of how horrified I was, to me not appropriate, but then times are changing and as I learned in linguistics at uni that language is forever changing. I have become a bit of an old prude, but I proudly carry the values I was brought up with.
 
I taught my son that what he said outside of the house and with his mates was one thing, what he said at home, in front of girls or adult family friends/relatives was quite another and if I heard him swear I'd wash his mouth out with soap. It worked for years and even now I rarely/never hear him say the wrong thing.
 
"Bloody" a swear word? Means something that is covered in blood!

Here's a short list off the top of my head that could be used a "common" word or a "swear" word. depending on the context.

PRICK....PUSSY....SCREW....COCK....ROOT....JACK....DICK....POOF....

A swear word is just an arrangement of letters. Who really cares, except for the old fuddy duddy wowsers who are stuck in the 19th century.
 
  • Love
Reactions: Toni Wrinkles
"Bloody" a swear word? Means something that is covered in blood!

Here's a short list off the top of my head that could be used a "common" word or a "swear" word. depending on the context.

PRICK....PUSSY....SCREW....COCK....ROOT....JACK....DICK....POOF....

A swear word is just an arrangement of letters. Who really cares, except for the old fuddy duddy wowsers who are stuck in the 19th century.
I was waiting for your input! 😇 You did not disappoint. 🌷
 
I've noticed a lot of young people using cuss words in normal conversation, even a couple of my kids.

I only swear when I'm really angry ( which isn't often) or if I really hurt my self.

I remember my son once asked me what makes a swear word bad as it's just a word ? I actually thought what a great question and had me thinking 🤔

Basically it's society that chose what words were not ok to say.

It's the same as the word death or anything associated with death, some cultures look at that word as a swear word.

I feel there are much more hurtful and powerful words than swear words eg Hateful and Hurtful words ... hate,stupid,idiot my pet hate is anyone using the word Retard

There is not one entity that dictates which words are wrong or inappropriate. Instead, societal consensus, cultural norms, and individual sensitivities determine what is considered unacceptable language.

Here's a more detailed look:
  • Societal Consensus:
    The majority of people in a particular society or community agree on what words or phrases are offensive or hurtful. This consensus is often shaped by cultural values, religious beliefs, and historical contex
  • Context and Audience:
    The appropriateness of language is highly dependent on the situation and who is involved. What might be acceptable in a casual conversation among friends could be completely inappropriate in a formal setting or when speaking to someone of authority.

    Individual Sensitivity:
    People have varying levels of sensitivity to certain words, and what might offend one person might not bother another.

    Taboo and Historical Roots:
    Some words or topics are considered taboo due to historical reasons or beliefs about their power or association with negativity. For example, some cultures have avoided speaking certain words related to death or disease out of fear of invoking them.

listen to hate speech from the Palestinians. I STAND WITH ISRAEL. i could use every swear word imaginable to them.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: mOiOz
I was bought up in a strict catholic house and one day one of my brothers bought his girlfriend at the time home for dinner. Well! She said the shit word at the table and my mother promptly picked up her plate of food and dumped the contents on the girls head.
Needless to say we never saw her again.🤣
 
I have an excellent vocabulary and I’m rarely at a loss for words. My parents never swore,as Toni said,my dad always said it indicated a poor vocabulary on the users part. I beg to differ. Sometimes a damned good swear is the only thing that works but only in certain situations! For instance, I never swear in an argument. That’s just showing a loss of self control. But if I stub my toe? The air will turn blue,my dears!!!
 
When it comes to swearing, if someone uses profanities all the time, probably without knowing s/he is doing so (I knew a man like that) s/he has actually lost the remarkable ability for the odd profanity to really emphasize a point.
"Bloody hell, it's fucking cold outside" from an habitual swearer has a lot less impact than :"it's bloody freezing outside" from someone who rarely swears. The first is just a whinge. The second is a briefer way of saying "It is extraordinarily cold to the point of freezing'.
I can't see any benefit in being known as a foul-mouthed nation!
 
My parents could turn the air blue, were both writers and had prodigious vocabulary. Lack of vocab? Certainly didn't apply to Chaucer or Shakespeare, the latter having been said to have 3x the vocab of most modern English speakers due to living/working during the change from Middle English to Modern English.
 
Had my mouth washed out quite a few times with good OLD LIFEBOY SOAP when I was young The very first day I went to School . Yes TOP PRIVAT SCHOOL . So don’t think it’s only boguns . Some of the things that have happened to me in my 87 years I would have the cleanest mouth in the neighbourhood if my mother was alive.
Did you blow fart bubbles 🤣🤣
 
I have an excellent vocabulary and I’m rarely at a loss for words. My parents never swore,as Toni said,my dad always said it indicated a poor vocabulary on the users part. I beg to differ. Sometimes a damned good swear is the only thing that works but only in certain situations! For instance, I never swear in an argument. That’s just showing a loss of self control. But if I stub my toe? The air will turn blue,my dears!!!
The only swear word l ever heard my dad say IF you can call it that was ''bloody hell'' when something unpleasant happened. My mother never swore . l hate vulgar words and think it shows the person up for what they are. There is no need for it.
 
I must be a prude, oh I swear but mine is mild compared to what I hear.............My Father never swore in front of a woman out of respect for them ......he heard me swear outside the house once and said "You know Tone people who swear do so because they have a limited vocabulary" and yep it stuck and when I swear B Hell and Shite etc I think yep I do have a limited but all the foul words I think are an insult to women and I hate hearing it, I pull my kids up as adult as they are eldest is close to 60 lol ........but most of these foul words refer to women's parts or the act of sex .............could this be part of the reason women are treated poorly............and why the young women are using the words too because they have lost self respect........I believe if you Respect someone you do them no harm truly if respect for each other is not taught then I rear for our world
I too say those who swear liberally have a limited vocabulary. I don't care how many diplomas they have. Every time someone swears I unconsciously but physically wince. I have never heard my father swear.
 

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