coprolalia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowSpecialized / Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “coprolalia” mean?
The involuntary, often repetitive use of obscene or socially unacceptable language, especially as a symptom of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The involuntary, often repetitive use of obscene or socially unacceptable language, especially as a symptom of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
In a broader, non-clinical sense, it can refer to a morbid or pathological fixation on using foul language, but its primary and technical use is medical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in medical and psychological contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Purely clinical and descriptive. Carries no additional regional connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions, confined almost exclusively to medical, psychiatric, and neurological literature and discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “coprolalia” in a Sentence
Patient exhibits coprolalia.Coprolalia is a symptom of [condition].The syndrome is characterised by coprolalia and motor tics.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coprolalia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The coprolalic outbursts were distressing for the patient.
American English
- The coprolalic symptoms were documented in the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in clinical psychology, neurology, and medical research papers. Very specialised.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A layperson might simply say 'involuntary swearing'.
Technical
The primary context. Precisely defined in diagnostic criteria (e.g., DSM-5) for tic disorders.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coprolalia”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coprolalia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coprolalia”
- Using it as a fancy synonym for everyday swearing.
- Pronouncing it with stress on the first syllable (KO-pro-lalia) instead of the third (ko-pro-LAY-li-a).
- Confusing it with 'coprophilia' (a very different paraphilia).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a stereotypical but relatively uncommon symptom, affecting only about 10-15% of individuals with Tourette's.
Typically, but it can also include other socially inappropriate utterances like racial slurs or derogatory comments. The core is the involuntary and contextually unacceptable nature.
While there is no cure, symptoms can often be managed with behavioural therapies (like CBIT) and, in some cases, medication to reduce the frequency and intensity of tics.
It is highly technical and will sound clinical or pretentious. In everyday talk, phrases like 'involuntary swearing' or 'a tic that makes them swear' are more appropriate and understandable.
The involuntary, often repetitive use of obscene or socially unacceptable language, especially as a symptom of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
Coprolalia is usually specialized / technical / medical in register.
Coprolalia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒprəˈleɪlɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːprəˈleɪliə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'coprolalia' as 'copro-' (from Greek 'kopros' meaning faeces/dung, hinting at obscenity) + '-lalia' (speech). It's 'filthy speech' that the speaker cannot control.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE AS AN INVOLUNTARY PHYSICAL REFLEX (like a sneeze or a spasm).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'coprolalia' primarily used?