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Original poster

To ask what a 'numpty' is where you live and if it's offensive?

219 replies

Eeepsh · 11/04/2024 13:08

Around here (South East) it means being a bit of a twit and is usually used with affection but I use it about my son and someone from East Anglia area was horrified!

Just wondering if it's a regional thing.

OP posts:
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5
Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 15:20

shoppingshamed · 11/04/2024 14:51

Whereas mine were brought up on a diet of old Top Gear episodes in which numpty featured in probably every one and have grown up with good educations and jobs that give back to society

So from that I think we can safely conclude that being called a numpty is absolutely no predictor of success in life, who knew?

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Perfect - 'Top Gear and being called names is all our kids need to be successful in life :)

tuvamoodyson · 11/04/2024 15:18

An eejit.

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 15:16

shoppingshamed · 11/04/2024 14:46

You said that most people who live in SE/ London wouldn't refer to our kids as a 'numpty'!!?

Being so sure about most people implies you have some knowledge and authority to make such statements.

I see that you've now rowed back to the fact actually what you meant was that you've never heard it which is a completely different matter

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I do have knowledge to make such a statement. I also don't think that the range of people that are commenting on this AIBU on Mumsnet is a sample pot of the majority of people who live in London/SE.

"I see that you've now rowed back to the fact actually what you meant was that you've never heard it which is a completely different matter"
Not at all, i didnt say i have NEVER heard it used. I said have never heard it used in an affectionate/ endearing way.

Longma · 11/04/2024 15:09

Shock horror - i haven't ever called my children names, raised a hand to them etc etc.

The fact that you put 'numpty' in the same category as name calling and hitting children is interesting. Couldn't be further than the case however.

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 15:08

BestZebbie · 11/04/2024 14:39

"Special" as in "He's a bit special" or "Are you special, or something?" is used as an insult to imply that someone has SEN - that they have learning difficulties specifically. Deriving from "Special School" etc etc.

Not the same context as "You are my special boy".

Edited
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Of course in that context that you mentioned, it is very much an insult.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 11/04/2024 15:08

I think it's a bit like "twat" in meaning and in ability to cause offence. Both terms mean someone who's behaving in a daft manner, some people find it offensive and others don't

Except that, unlike 'twat', 'numpty' wasn't originally a word referring to female genitalia!

PawBroon86 · 11/04/2024 15:07

DoYouSmokePaul · 11/04/2024 14:36

Twat is not like numpty!! Twat is not as strong as cunt but more on a par with something like “arsehole”. I wouldn’t call someone I liked a twat!!

This surprised me when I found out twat could be reasonably offensive, where I am it's on par with numpty (both completely non offensive) although I'm also in an area where being called a cunt can be a positive depending on the context

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 15:06

tobee · 11/04/2024 14:47

Really?

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Yep!

Longma · 11/04/2024 15:05

Greyat · 11/04/2024 13:16

I'd use it affectionately like you did, but I wouldn't say it about a child. I might flinch at any child being told they're a bit thick.

Used for all ages here, including children.
I've known teachers/doctors to affectionately calll a child a numpty - absolutely no offence taken by anyone.
It's not calling someone thick. It's saying they've been a bit daft about or with something.

Longma · 11/04/2024 15:01

Sheffield.

numpty is an affectionate tern for someone being a bit daft.

shoppingshamed · 11/04/2024 14:51

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 14:17

I don't know what that means (but, i will google).

Shock horror - i haven't ever called my children names, raised a hand to them etc etc.

If that means not calling my children names which i would find offensive and mean then, i guess i am! I have lovely, compassionate Children that have good educations and have gone on to give back a lot to society with their chosen careers.

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Whereas mine were brought up on a diet of old Top Gear episodes in which numpty featured in probably every one and have grown up with good educations and jobs that give back to society

So from that I think we can safely conclude that being called a numpty is absolutely no predictor of success in life, who knew?

Overthinkingeverythingallthetime · 11/04/2024 14:48

It's a term of endearment

To ask what a 'numpty' is where you live and if it's offensive?
StrongandNorthern · 11/04/2024 14:48

Yorkshire. Affectionate. Not offensive.

tobee · 11/04/2024 14:47

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 13:11

I live in the South East/ London.

It would generally mean here to be a bit of an idiot/ incompetent and not a nice way to describe someone.

Really?

shoppingshamed · 11/04/2024 14:46

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 14:05

I honestly have never heard the word 'numpty' being used as an affectionate word or term of endearment.

Where on earth did i say that i was a spokesperson for everyone in London. I was replying to the OP on a public forum who said she lived in the SE and she uses it and i replied saying i live in the same area and have never heard of 'numpty' being used as a term of endearment. The person calling that name to a child might think that way but, i am sure that the child being called a numpty wouldnt see it like that.

Sweetie, Lovely, Special - Yes.

Numpty - No!

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You said that most people who live in SE/ London wouldn't refer to our kids as a 'numpty'!!?

Being so sure about most people implies you have some knowledge and authority to make such statements.

I see that you've now rowed back to the fact actually what you meant was that you've never heard it which is a completely different matter

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 11/04/2024 14:46

Once round a hotel pool, some Glaswegians called a large boy a numpty for hassling the little ones. It sounded worse than a twit, to my ear.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/04/2024 14:41

FrenchandSaunders · 11/04/2024 13:09

London, like you say it's a bit of a twit, affectionate, harmless. We use it at work a lot.

Same here. Are you sure that the person wasn't thinking of "nonce" instead of numpty?

BestZebbie · 11/04/2024 14:39

Bellaboo01 · 11/04/2024 14:27

Thats interesting - why would your child find calling them 'special' more offensive that calling them 'numpty'!?

There are plenty of people in my life that i refer to as special to me and i hope that they aren't offended by that. My child/Nieces/ Nephew for example is my 'special little boy/girl' If i called them 'A numpty' then everyone i know i think would find that an odd way to speak.

Cards i buy quite often say - 'to a special boy/ girl'. I've yet to come across one that says 'to a numpty'!

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"Special" as in "He's a bit special" or "Are you special, or something?" is used as an insult to imply that someone has SEN - that they have learning difficulties specifically. Deriving from "Special School" etc etc.

Not the same context as "You are my special boy".

DoYouSmokePaul · 11/04/2024 14:36

Twat is not like numpty!! Twat is not as strong as cunt but more on a par with something like “arsehole”. I wouldn’t call someone I liked a twat!!

Megapint · 11/04/2024 14:33

Very different to twat. Twat is on par with cunt. I like numpty it's gentle. I also go with daft apath and silly ass. I've told this before but yrs ago my mil called my son a twat by accident I think she was going for twit. She was mortified when I said ' did you just call him name twat'. Even now it still raises a belly laugh ' mum remember when gran called me a twat?'

Amethystanddiamonds · 11/04/2024 14:32

Used interchangeably with (silly) sausage here. It's used more as a term of endearment when you are being a bit daft. I called DS a numpty just last night when he got his hoodie stuck on his head and needed me to rescue him.

HollyGolightly4 · 11/04/2024 14:30

@Dotjones Twat is referencing female genitals- slightly more offensive!

kitsuneghost · 11/04/2024 14:29

Glasgow. A bit daft. Affectionate

DdraigGoch · 11/04/2024 14:29

"Where are my glasses?"
"They're on your head, you numpty!"

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 11/04/2024 14:28

Dotjones · 11/04/2024 14:15

I think it's a bit like "twat" in meaning and in ability to cause offence. Both terms mean someone who's behaving in a daft manner, some people find it offensive and others don't.

Definitely not similar. Numpty far less offensive.

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