talk dirty to me.
August 14, 2009 2:35 PM
lexiconFilter: what are some words that sound really gross even as you are saying them?
the most prime example of this that always strikes me is "moist." just saying it makes feel icky. another one is "salve." what other words do you find as equally unpleasant to pronounce?
the most prime example of this that always strikes me is "moist." just saying it makes feel icky. another one is "salve." what other words do you find as equally unpleasant to pronounce?
pus
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
the most prime example of this that always strikes me is "moist."
I know a woman that would concur with that strongly. "Damp" also made her cringe.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
I know a woman that would concur with that strongly. "Damp" also made her cringe.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
excrete
posted by longsleeves at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by longsleeves at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2009
When my son was about six, he said, "When you say moths, you bite your tongue. But just a little bit."
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:45 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:45 PM on August 14, 2009
I have no problem with moist, but ointment and putrefaction sound pretty horrible to me. Additionally.
posted by halogen at 2:45 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by halogen at 2:45 PM on August 14, 2009
Smegma. Not that I pronounce it very often, or ever.
posted by Wordwoman at 2:49 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by Wordwoman at 2:49 PM on August 14, 2009
chitterlings
Olentangy (as in Olentangy/Old and Grungy River)
fester
roil
adenoid AND pharyngeal tonsil
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:50 PM on August 14, 2009
Olentangy (as in Olentangy/Old and Grungy River)
fester
roil
adenoid AND pharyngeal tonsil
posted by Juliet Banana at 2:50 PM on August 14, 2009
nuptials
succor
(though I do usually avoid using those words because they sound way ickier than their meanings)
posted by AV at 3:00 PM on August 14, 2009
succor
(though I do usually avoid using those words because they sound way ickier than their meanings)
posted by AV at 3:00 PM on August 14, 2009
gross
posted by gabrielsamoza at 3:11 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by gabrielsamoza at 3:11 PM on August 14, 2009
Just an interesting side note, that the majority of ugly words are Saxon rather than Latin derivatives. Something earthy and raw about the old roots of the language!
posted by Meatbomb at 3:19 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by Meatbomb at 3:19 PM on August 14, 2009
redfoxtail, sounds like you had the unfortunate physical experience of those words, all at the same time.
viscera
expectorate
posted by CancerMan at 3:26 PM on August 14, 2009
viscera
expectorate
posted by CancerMan at 3:26 PM on August 14, 2009
roach
roaches
I am terrified as roaches. My mother knew that and would use it against me whenever she wanted me to clean something. She just needed to repeat "Roaches! Roaches! Roa-CHES", with the emphasis on the CHES, almost spitting on it. I would get up and do whatever she wanted because I hated having any mess around that would attract the foul creatures.
Roa-CHES
Ugh. Just typing it kills me.
posted by Alison at 4:52 PM on August 14, 2009
roaches
I am terrified as roaches. My mother knew that and would use it against me whenever she wanted me to clean something. She just needed to repeat "Roaches! Roaches! Roa-CHES", with the emphasis on the CHES, almost spitting on it. I would get up and do whatever she wanted because I hated having any mess around that would attract the foul creatures.
Roa-CHES
Ugh. Just typing it kills me.
posted by Alison at 4:52 PM on August 14, 2009
"Crusty Cooter" is one I remember sending chills up a few spines. It is a phrase more than a word (and I did see crusty above) but I think "crusty cooter" ranks up there pretty high.
posted by milqman at 5:03 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by milqman at 5:03 PM on August 14, 2009
spleen, milk (when someone pronounces it "melk"), in addition to many others people have already listed
I love this post so much that I am making the grimiest possible track out of it. Look for it at mefi music tonight or tomorrow if you don't mind getting nasty-fied.</small
posted by nosila at 5:28 PM on August 14, 2009
I love this post so much that I am making the grimiest possible track out of it. Look for it at mefi music tonight or tomorrow if you don't mind getting nasty-fied.</small
posted by nosila at 5:28 PM on August 14, 2009
Secretions
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:30 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:30 PM on August 14, 2009
snot
I can't say it, and I can't hear it without gagging
posted by dogmom at 6:01 PM on August 14, 2009
I can't say it, and I can't hear it without gagging
posted by dogmom at 6:01 PM on August 14, 2009
knickers (brings to mind Benny Hill chasing a woman he'd probably prefer not to catch)
diabetes (even when disassociated from its meaning; it's phonetically and orthographically repellent.)
twelfth
Juniata ("joo-nee-atta")
posted by kurumi at 6:15 PM on August 14, 2009
diabetes (even when disassociated from its meaning; it's phonetically and orthographically repellent.)
twelfth
Juniata ("joo-nee-atta")
posted by kurumi at 6:15 PM on August 14, 2009
(even when disassociated from its meaning; it's phonetically and orthographically repellent.)
How do you do that???
posted by nosila at 6:24 PM on August 14, 2009
How do you do that???
posted by nosila at 6:24 PM on August 14, 2009
I'm repelled by the word "veggies" (no problems eating my vegetables, though).
posted by illenion at 6:35 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by illenion at 6:35 PM on August 14, 2009
It's impossible to separate most of these words from association with their meanings. The words represent gross things or ideas or thoughts and so the word itself becomes gross. Anybody can think of a gross ick-inducing word that means something gross like "maggots".
The more difficult problem is a gross ick-inducing word that means something good or beautiful.
In that vein I nominate: nacreous.
posted by Justinian at 6:42 PM on August 14, 2009
The more difficult problem is a gross ick-inducing word that means something good or beautiful.
In that vein I nominate: nacreous.
posted by Justinian at 6:42 PM on August 14, 2009
Justinian, I completely agree, so many of these words define disgusting things...yet I find them to be lovely words...as words. they enrich our vocabulary, broaden the typography of our communication. nacreous...nacreous is a GORGEOUS word, although I wouldn't necessarily want it used to describe anything about myself....
I cannot think of a word that disgusts me too much too use, although I am sure it's out there...
posted by supermedusa at 6:52 PM on August 14, 2009
I cannot think of a word that disgusts me too much too use, although I am sure it's out there...
posted by supermedusa at 6:52 PM on August 14, 2009
What? No one has mentioned uvula? I'll do it, then. UVULA.
And sweater has always struck me as horrific.
redfoxtail mentioned hubby. Amen! Favorite word of dumb-ass housewives. Pardon me; stay-at-home moms.
And here's one invariably used by benighted pyramid-scheme admirers: opportunity.
Bleagh !
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:55 PM on August 14, 2009
And sweater has always struck me as horrific.
redfoxtail mentioned hubby. Amen! Favorite word of dumb-ass housewives. Pardon me; stay-at-home moms.
And here's one invariably used by benighted pyramid-scheme admirers: opportunity.
Bleagh !
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:55 PM on August 14, 2009
I used to have a friend who would say, "When I have my first daughter, I'm going to call her 'Ammonia.' Such a beautiful name....ammonia."
posted by nosila at 6:56 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by nosila at 6:56 PM on August 14, 2009
Love the act, hate the word: Cunnilingus.
posted by in the methow at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by in the methow at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2009
Hurl.
Gurgle.
Mung (from Wayne's World, not the Urban Dictionary) (Don't look up the Urban Dictionary entries. Really, don't).
Diphtheria.
Plethysmograph.
Wobbles.
Slightly off course - Some proper names that give me the willies:
Carpathia.
Murgatroyd.
Ignatz.
Elspeth.
Cronkite.
Wumpscutt.
Willies.
PS: Thank you and Damn you for asking this question..
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:37 PM on August 14, 2009
Gurgle.
Mung (from Wayne's World, not the Urban Dictionary) (Don't look up the Urban Dictionary entries. Really, don't).
Diphtheria.
Plethysmograph.
Wobbles.
Slightly off course - Some proper names that give me the willies:
Carpathia.
Murgatroyd.
Ignatz.
Elspeth.
Cronkite.
Wumpscutt.
Willies.
PS: Thank you and Damn you for asking this question..
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:37 PM on August 14, 2009
Banal. All pronunciations suck.
Uranus. Talk to a classroom of 4th graders about it -- there's no good solution there. The harm-free British solution -- "yerANNis" sounds, if anything, worst.
Seaman. Same problem.
Caulk. If you don't want to say "cock" you have to do gross things with your throat.
I must be a misogynist: I can't say "womb" or "bosom" out loud successfully.
I wince when adults say something is "yummy," but I don't know if it's gross per se. Someone referring to his/her "lover" is gross, however.
posted by argybarg at 9:56 PM on August 14, 2009
Uranus. Talk to a classroom of 4th graders about it -- there's no good solution there. The harm-free British solution -- "yerANNis" sounds, if anything, worst.
Seaman. Same problem.
Caulk. If you don't want to say "cock" you have to do gross things with your throat.
I must be a misogynist: I can't say "womb" or "bosom" out loud successfully.
I wince when adults say something is "yummy," but I don't know if it's gross per se. Someone referring to his/her "lover" is gross, however.
posted by argybarg at 9:56 PM on August 14, 2009
Oh, and "munch." Another word for grownups to avoid at all costs. If you "munch" on something "yummy" I will hit you.
posted by argybarg at 9:58 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by argybarg at 9:58 PM on August 14, 2009
I hate mature, whether it's pronounced "macher" or "matour."
posted by IndigoRain at 10:08 PM on August 14, 2009
posted by IndigoRain at 10:08 PM on August 14, 2009
Caulk. If you don't want to say "cock" you have to do gross things with your throat.
"Pianist" is sort of similar that way.
I always hated when people pronounced "snot" as "shnot."
What the hell? Way to make it even grosser.
"Pap Smear." (Or "shmear!")
Why does it have to be a smear and not just a test or a culture or whatever? Why the need to be so fucking visual about it? SMEAR. Combined with the "pap" it's just gross. It makes me think of a doctor saying, "Well, we're going to have to wait for the results of that shit smear we did on you today."
Also, saying "liquid" always made me feel funny, like I had a cold. Maybe because it's exactly like "Nyquil."
posted by chococat at 11:00 PM on August 14, 2009
"Pianist" is sort of similar that way.
I always hated when people pronounced "snot" as "shnot."
What the hell? Way to make it even grosser.
"Pap Smear." (Or "shmear!")
Why does it have to be a smear and not just a test or a culture or whatever? Why the need to be so fucking visual about it? SMEAR. Combined with the "pap" it's just gross. It makes me think of a doctor saying, "Well, we're going to have to wait for the results of that shit smear we did on you today."
Also, saying "liquid" always made me feel funny, like I had a cold. Maybe because it's exactly like "Nyquil."
posted by chococat at 11:00 PM on August 14, 2009
Asks.
I hate saying that word. Somehow, it comes out as 3 syllables.
posted by onich at 2:00 AM on August 15, 2009
I hate saying that word. Somehow, it comes out as 3 syllables.
posted by onich at 2:00 AM on August 15, 2009
Almost any word beginning with "sn" (except snow) -- sneer, snail, snake, snot, snatch, etc.
But a keyword among fans of Edgar Allan Poe is putrescence.
posted by Rash at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2009
But a keyword among fans of Edgar Allan Poe is putrescence.
posted by Rash at 3:51 AM on August 15, 2009
Similar discussion in the Guardian recently:
Which words make you wince? | Books | guardian.co.uk
posted by Boobus Tuber at 5:48 AM on August 15, 2009
Which words make you wince? | Books | guardian.co.uk
posted by Boobus Tuber at 5:48 AM on August 15, 2009
Yogurt. which comes from the ancient Aramaic word for "Cream cheese of Hades." (h/t Billy C. Wirtz).
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:50 AM on August 15, 2009
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:50 AM on August 15, 2009
Also: Bunny Breedwell.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:05 AM on August 15, 2009
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:05 AM on August 15, 2009
luscious
posted by Brody's chum at 10:42 AM on August 15, 2009
posted by Brody's chum at 10:42 AM on August 15, 2009
Crispy
Crunchy
Treat
Snack
(TV ads are hell for me.)
posted by Kloryne at 12:56 PM on August 15, 2009
Crunchy
Treat
Snack
(TV ads are hell for me.)
posted by Kloryne at 12:56 PM on August 15, 2009
As promised, I made a bangin' and nasty track out of this thread and posted it at Music. Check it.
posted by nosila at 1:09 PM on August 15, 2009
posted by nosila at 1:09 PM on August 15, 2009
Sweetie.
Especially when used by older people to describe their partners.
posted by ms.v. at 2:45 PM on August 15, 2009
Especially when used by older people to describe their partners.
posted by ms.v. at 2:45 PM on August 15, 2009
Sputum
posted by FergieBelle at 5:13 PM on August 15, 2009
posted by FergieBelle at 5:13 PM on August 15, 2009
munch/munched
grab/grabbed (find some good verbs, new writers, these bite ass)
began
boyf (like the bastard child of boil and queef)
hubby
cum (but not come)
cremains
inurnment (fuck you, neologisms of death marketing)
proctor
crispy (either it's crisp or it's not, asshole)
posted by Sallyfur at 6:16 PM on August 15, 2009
grab/grabbed (find some good verbs, new writers, these bite ass)
began
boyf (like the bastard child of boil and queef)
hubby
cum (but not come)
cremains
inurnment (fuck you, neologisms of death marketing)
proctor
crispy (either it's crisp or it's not, asshole)
posted by Sallyfur at 6:16 PM on August 15, 2009
Leave us not forget:
rubbery
nurture/nurturing
coupon
shave
fungus
and the pseudo-word "preemie"
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:16 AM on August 17, 2009
rubbery
nurture/nurturing
coupon
shave
fungus
and the pseudo-word "preemie"
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:16 AM on August 17, 2009
supple
posted by IndigoRain at 8:51 PM on August 27, 2009
posted by IndigoRain at 8:51 PM on August 27, 2009
spunky
spatula
goulash
gouache
gauche
galoshes
gloaming
posted by Sys Rq at 9:24 PM on December 9, 2009
spatula
goulash
gouache
gauche
galoshes
gloaming
posted by Sys Rq at 9:24 PM on December 9, 2009
rockin' rocking, as in "she's rocking those jeans". Ugh.
posted by Sallyfur at 7:43 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by Sallyfur at 7:43 PM on March 8, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
canker
discharge
aubergine
In unrelated news, I just came up with the most awesome band name ever.
posted by jbickers at 2:37 PM on August 14, 2009