Editing Four-letter word

{{Short description|Euphemism for profanity}}
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The term '''four-letter word''' serves as a euphemism for words that are often considered [[Profanity|profane]] or offensive.

The designation "four-letter" arises from the observation that many (though not all) popular or [[slang]] terms related to [[Excretion|excretory functions]], [[Human sexual activity|sexual activity]], [[sex organ|genitalia]], [[blasphemy|blasphemies]], and terms linked to [[Hell]] or [[damnation]] are incidentally four-character [[Syllable|monosyllables]]. Notably, the term "four-letter word" does not strictly refer to words containing exactly four letters.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bergen |first=Benjamin |date=September 20, 2016 |title=The Science of Swear Words (Warning: NSFW AF) |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/science-swear-words-warning-nsfw-af/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref>

The phrase has been in use in both the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]] since at least 1886.<ref>{{Cite web|title=four-letter word – Caught in the Web of Words|url=https://etymology.kenliss.com/blog/?p=946|access-date=2021-12-28|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:1976 campaign button a.JPG|thumb|right|[[Campaign button (political)|Campaign button]] used in the [[1976 United States presidential election]].]]

Common four-letter words (in this context) widely considered [[vulgarity|vulgar]] or [[term of disparagement|offensive]] include: ''[[cunt]]'', ''[[fuck]]'' (and regional variants like ''feck'', ''fick'', ''fock'', and ''foak''), ''[[wikt:jism|jism]]'' (or ''gism''), ''[[wikt:jizz|jizz]]'', ''[[shit]]'', ''[[slut]]'', ''[[twat]]'', and ''[[wikt:tit|tits]]''. Notably, the term ''Piss'' (once an offensive swear word){{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} has non-excretory uses (''pissed off'' meaning "angry" in [[American English|US English and British UK English]]; ''pissed'' meaning "drunk" in [[British English|UK English]] and [[Australian English]]) and has occurred with its excretory meaning in the [[King James Bible]]. Some of these words have been deemed legally [[Indecency|indecent]] under the regulations of the [[United States Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for TV and radio open-airwave broadcasting.

Other words of this length that may be upsetting due to religious or personal sensitivity include: ''[[wikt:arse|arse]]'' (UK), ''[[wikt:damn|damn]]'', ''[[wikt:crap|crap]]'', ''[[wikt:hell|hell]]'', ''[[wikt:piss|piss]]'', ''[[wikt:wang|wang]]'', and ''[[wikt:wank|wank]]'' (UK). Additionally, slurs related to [[racism]], [[ableism]], and an individual's [[sexual orientation]] may qualify, such as ''[[wikt:mong|mong]]'' (in the UK not a racial slur,{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} but short for Mongol, or someone with [[Down syndrome]] – previously called [[Mongoloid idiot|Mongolism]]), ''[[wikt:gook|gook]]'', ''[[wikt:kike|kike]]'', ''[[wikt:spic|spic]]'', ''[[wikt:coon|coon]]'', ''[[wikt:dago|dago]]'', and ''[[wikt:dyke|dyke]]''.

Certain "four-letter words" have multiple meanings (some serving as [[given names]]) and usually only offend when used in their vulgar senses. Examples include: ''[[wikt:cock|cock]]'', ''[[wikt:dick|dick]]'', ''[[wikt:knob|knob]]'', ''[[wikt:muff|muff]]'', ''[[wikt:puss|puss]]'', ''[[wikt:shag|shag]]'' (UK), and ''[[wikt:toss|toss]]'' (UK). A borderline category includes words that are [[Euphemism|euphemistic]] evasions of "stronger" words and those that happen to be short, with both an expletive sound to some listeners and a sexual or excretory meaning (many also have other, non-vulgar meanings): ''[[wikt:butt|butt]]'' (US), ''[[wikt:crud|crud]]'', ''[[wikt:darn|darn]]'', ''[[wikt:dump|dump]]'', ''[[wikt:heck|heck]]'', ''[[wikt:poop|poop]]'' (US), ''[[wikt:slag|slag]]'' (UK, NZ, AUS), ''[[wikt:slut|slut]]'', and ''[[wikt:turd|turd]]''.

Finally, some four-letter terms with limited usage can be considered offensive within the regional dialect they are used, such as ''[[wikt:mong|mong]]'' and ''[[wikt:mary|mary]]''.

Occasionally, the phrase "four-letter word" is humorously used to describe common words composed of four letters. Examples include the word ''work'', implying that work can be unpleasant, or the game of ''[[golf]]'', jokingly referred to as a four-letter word when a player's pastime becomes an exercise in frustration. In 1993, ''[[Charlotte Observer]]'' journalist Doug Robarchek noted how many U.S. politicians have names with four letters, humorously observing, "Ever notice how many U.S. politicians have names that are also four-letter words? [[Gerald Ford|Ford]], [[Robert Dole|Dole]], [[David Duke|Duke]], [[George H. W. Bush|Bush]], [[Al Gore|Gore]] ... and how many make us think of four-letter words?"<ref>{{cite news|page= 6C|journal= [[w:Charlotte Observer|Charlotte Observer]] |date=September 29, 1993|department= Living|title= Outfront If You Ignore Deaths, Those State Rest Areas Are Perfectly Safe|author= Doug Robarchek}}</ref>

==Similar euphemisms in other languages==
*[[Chinese language|Chinese]]: The term 三字經 (lit. [[Three Character Classic]]) is used to describe swearing, as many such phrases in Chinese consist of three characters.
*[[Dutch language|Dutch]]: A similar tradition occurs with "three-letter words", e.g. ''kut'' ("cunt"/"twat"), ''pik'' and ''lul'' ("cock"/"dick"/"prick").
*[[Finnish language|Finnish]]: Rude words tend to be five-letter words, like the common swear word ''perse'' meaning "arse", or ''paska'' meaning "shit". Other offensive five-letter words refer to the genital region, eg. ''kulli'' and ''kyrpä'' ("cock"/"dick"/"prick"), along with ''pillu'' and ''vittu'' ("twat"/"cunt"). 
*[[French language|French]]: the word ''merde'' ("shit") is sometimes referred to as ''le mot de cinq lettres'' ("the five-letter word"), or ''le mot de [[Pierre Cambronne|Cambronne]]''. Also, profanities in French are usually called ''gros mots'' (coarse words).
*[[German language|German]]: the phrase ''Setz dich auf deine vier Buchstaben!'' ("sit down on your four letters") is mainly used speaking to children, as it refers to the word ''Popo'', meaning "rump" in baby talk. A variant, ''Setz dich auf deine fünf Buchstaben!'' ("sit down on your five letters"), alludes to the vulgar use of the word ''Arsch'', meaning "arse" ([[British English|UK]]) or "ass" ([[American English|US]]).
*[[Latin]]: a common insult used to be ''Es vir trium litterarum'', meaning "you are a man of three letters". The underlying implication was that the addressed was a ''fur'', meaning "[[thief]]", although if challenged, the speaker could always claim he simply meant ''vir'', that is, "man".
*[[Polish language|Polish]]: the word ''dupa'' ("arse"/"ass") is called ''cztery litery'' ("the four letters"). Historically, also ''kiep'', which formerly used to be a [[Word taboo|taboo word]] meaning "female genitals", but presently is a mild or humorous insult meaning "a fool" or a modern slang term for a cigarette. There is also a phrase ''Siadaj na cztery litery'' (''sit down on your four letter''), meaning ''sit on your arse''.
*[[Russian language|Russian]]: the word ''хуй'' ("cock"/"dick"/"prick"), the most common obscenity, is called  "the three-letter word" (''[[Russian Language|russ]]''.: "слово из трёх букв") or just "three letters" (''[[Russian Language|russ]]''.: "три буквы") and is one of the key words of the "[[Mat (Russian profanity)#Key words|Russian mat]]".

==In popular culture==
Generic references, not specifying the word:
*[[Cole Porter]]'s 1934 song "[[Anything Goes (Cole Porter song)|Anything Goes]]" includes the line "Good authors too who once knew better words, now only use four-letter words writing prose. Anything goes."
*[[Cheap Trick]]'s 1982 album [[One on One (Cheap Trick album)|''One on One'']] finishes with a song titled "Four Letter Word".
*[[The Cardigans]] in their song "[[For What It's Worth (The Cardigans song)|For What It's Worth]]", use the "four-letter word" expression several times.
*''[[That Four-Letter Word]]'' is a 2006 independent film from India.
*[[Wales|Welsh]] [[Punk rock|punk]] band Four Letter Word, formed in 1991, named themselves after the phrase.
*''A Four Letter Word'' is also the title of a 2007 gay-themed movie starring Jesse Archer and [[Charlie David]].
*"[[Four Letter Word (Def Leppard song)|Four Letter Word]]" is also the title of a 2003 song by [[Def Leppard]].
*"Four Letter Words", a 1979 song by [[Nicky Chinn|Chinn]] and [[Mike Chapman|Chapman]] on Suzi Quatro's album ''[[Suzi ... and Other Four Letter Words]]''
*American punk-rock band Gossip released a track entitled "Four Letter Word" on their 2009 album Music For Men.
*The 2007 [[Cold in California]] album by [[Ingram Hill]] includes a track entitled "Four Letter Word".
*The opening track of [[Beady Eye]]'s 2011 album [[Different Gear, Still Speeding]] is entitled "Four Letter Word".
*[[Echobelly]] on their album [[On (Echobelly album)]] included a song named: "Four Letter Word".
*[[Chocolate Starfish]] have a track called "Four Letter Word" on their eponymous album.
*The song "[[Irresistible (Fall Out Boy song)|Irresistible]]" by [[Fall Out Boy]] features the line "You know I give my love a four-letter name".
*In the 2019 [[BBC]]-[[HBO]] mini-series ''[[Years and Years (TV series)|Years and Years]]'' written by [[Russell T Davies]], after controversialist businesswoman Vivienne Rook gains popularity by claiming that she "doesn't give a fuck" about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict whilst on ''[[Question Time]]'' and subsequently railing against being censored, she establishes the populist, far-right Four Star Party, whose symbol is four asterisks.
A specified word that actually has four letters:
Love:
*The fact that ''[[love]]'' is a word with four letters has been used in several popular song titles, including "[[Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word]]" written by [[Bob Dylan]] and performed by [[Joan Baez]], "[[Four Letter Word (Kim Wilde song)|Four Letter Word]]" written by [[Ricki Wilde|Ricki]] and [[Marty Wilde]] and performed by [[Kim Wilde]], "4 Letter Word" written by [[Claude Kelly]] and [[Matt Squire]] and performed by [[David Cook (singer)|David Cook]].
*[[Elton John]]'s [[I've Seen That Movie Too]] from his 1973 album [[Goodbye Yellow Brick Road]] contains the line "love's just a four letter word" in the chorus.<ref>{{Citation |title=Elton John – I've Seen That Movie Too |url=https://genius.com/Elton-john-ive-seen-that-movie-too-lyrics |access-date=2024-02-24}}</ref>
*A television show called ''[[Love_Is_a_Four_Letter_Word_(TV_series)|Love Is a Four Letter Word]]'' was produced by [[ABC (Australia)|ABC]] in [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/loveis/|title=love is a four letter word|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|year=2001|access-date=2014-08-13}}</ref>
*[[Jack Ingram]]'s song "Love You", uses love as a play on another four-letter word: "Yeah, I'm sick an' lovin' tired of all your lovin' around".
*[[Metallica]] uses the line "Love is a four-letter word" in the song "[[The Day That Never Comes]]" from their album ''[[Death Magnetic]]''.
*R&B singer Raheem DeVaughan used the "love" meaning in his song "Four Letter Word" on his 2008 album ''Love Behind The Melody''.
*''[[Love Is a Four Letter Word (album)|Love Is a Four Letter Word]],'' 2012, [[Jason Mraz]]
*The song "How We Do ('93 Til)" by [[Freddie Gibbs]] features the line "love is a four-letter word like fuck and shit, so, love, you can suck my dick".<ref>{{Citation |title=Freddie Gibbs – How We Do ('93 Til Freestyle #3) |url=https://genius.com/Freddie-gibbs-how-we-do-93-til-freestyle-3-lyrics |access-date=2024-02-24}}</ref>
Work:
*In a song sung by [[Cilla Black]] and [[Cover song|covered]] by [[The Smiths]], "[[I Keep Mine Hidden|Work Is a Four-letter Word]]", this phrase is used to describe work as obscene.
*''[[Work Is a Four-Letter Word]]'' is the title of a 1968 British comedy film.
Hope:
*The song "[[Counting Stars]]" by [[OneRepublic]] features the line "hope is our four-letter word".
Hate:
*The band [[Shock Therapy (band)|Shock Therapy]] sang a song "Hate Is a 4-Letter Word".
Jazz:
*A photo-montage by partner-artists Privat & Primat is titled "Jazz and Love are 4-Letter Words".
Nice:
*Good Omens's famous wall scene: Crowley's "I'm not nice; nice is a four-letter word"
A specified word that does not actually have four letters:
*The band [[Cake (band)|Cake]] made a play on words in their song "[[Friend Is a Four Letter Word]]."
*The song "[[Baby, I'm an Anarchist!|Baby, I'm an Anarchist]]" by [[Against Me!]] features the line "to you solidarity's a four-letter word."
*In Degrassi: The Next Generation Episode 504, Mr. Simpson (Snake) says "...in my life, spontaneous is a four-letter word."
*In the song "Absolute zero" by "[[Stone Sour]]", there is a line that goes as follows: "Man is a four-letter word, it's really absurd"

==See also==
{{Portal|Language}}
*[[Seven dirty words]]
*[[Tetragrammaton]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{profanity}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four-Letter Word}}
[[Category:English words]]
[[Category:Euphemisms]]
[[Category:Profanity]]