cunt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low in polite/formal contexts. High within specific in-group vulgar usage.Taboo, Vulgar, Offensive, Slang.
Quick answer
What does “cunt” mean?
A vulgar term for the female genitalia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A vulgar term for the female genitalia.
A highly offensive, misogynistic term for a person (especially a woman) considered contemptible, malicious, or unpleasant. Can also be used among some groups (e.g., in Australia, UK) as an affectionate, albeit very coarse, term for a friend or a person (usually male).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, it can sometimes be used with less severe malice among close friends (e.g., 'He's a good cunt'), though still extremely coarse. In the US, it is almost exclusively a vicious, misogynistic insult with no positive in-group usage.
Connotations
UK: Can range from extreme insult to (rarely) rough camaraderie. Australia/NZ: Similar to UK, with broader, though still vulgar, in-group use. US: Universally an extreme, gendered insult.
Frequency
More likely to be heard in uncensored media (e.g., premium cable, underground music) in the UK/AU than the US. In the US, its public utterance is considered profoundly shocking.
Grammar
How to Use “cunt” in a Sentence
You [be] a {cunt}.What a {cunt}!Don't be such a {cunt}.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cunt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm gonna cunt punt that ball.
- He got completely cunted at the pub last night. (vulgar slang for drunk)
American English
- (Extremely rare as verb) He tried to cunt me over in the deal.
adverb
British English
- (Rare) He drove cunting fast.
adjective
British English
- That was a cunt of a thing to say.
- What a cunting nightmare.
American English
- (Virtually never used adjectivally) That's some cunt move you pulled.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never acceptable. Use would be grounds for immediate dismissal.
Academic
Never acceptable, except in rare linguistic or sociological analysis of the term itself.
Everyday
Extremely high-risk; likely to cause severe offense, end friendships, or provoke violence.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cunt”
- Using it casually without understanding its extreme offensiveness.
- Assuming its in-group usage in UK/AU is acceptable with strangers or in mixed company.
- Believing it has the same semantic range as 'idiot' or 'jerk'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For many people, especially in the United States, it is considered the single most offensive and taboo word, primarily due to its misogynistic force.
For non-native speakers, the risk of severe social or professional backlash is so high that it is strongly advised to never use this word actively.
In certain working-class and subcultural milieus, a process of semantic bleaching and reappropriation has occurred, softening it among in-groups. However, this is not universal and remains highly context-dependent.
Understand it as a sign of extreme anger, contempt, or (in rare, specific contexts) very close familiarity. It is a strong indicator of the speaker's emotional state and their relationship with the listener or subject.
A vulgar term for the female genitalia.
Cunt is usually taboo, vulgar, offensive, slang. in register.
Cunt: in British English it is pronounced /kʌnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kʌnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery (you useless cunt)”
- “not give a cunt's cough (AUS/NZ, vulgar)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WARNING: This is a highly offensive word. To remember its severity, associate it with the most severe taboo in your native language.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A (CONTEMPTIBLE) BODY PART.
Practice
Quiz
In which regional variety might 'cunt' VERY RARELY be used as a rough term of endearment among close in-group members?