Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think ‘Fart’ isn’t a swear word.

156 replies

Toddlerteaplease · 08/06/2026 19:31

Aged 44, my mum had told me off for complaining that their cat farted, when sitting on my knee. Apparently fart is a swear word. 🤣🤔

OP posts:
ExOptimist · 08/06/2026 20:27

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:15

What’s polite company?

The king then yeah I wouldn’t fart nor would I announce one.

My mum? Well she’s wiped my arse 🤷🏻‍♀️ What’s a fart between between us 😂

A class room full of farting boys. Is exactly where I’d expect to hear it.

It depends obviously. As can be seen, within some families, especially with young children, people don't use the word and do not want their children to use it. In some families even adults never use it. I would say the classroom is a place of polite company. I would not expect a teacher to say it in front of children or for children to use it in front of the teacher.

People should know that there are places where it's acceptable to use a coarse word and others where it isn't. Unfortunately many people are coarse in all company.

Pawpaw4 · 08/06/2026 20:26

ChaosQueenDarkfang · 08/06/2026 20:10

I thought Pump was a Scottish word for fart as I’ve not heard it outside of visiting family.

I for one take great pleasure in hollering “WHO PUMPED” at the top of my lungs in my broad Scottish accent at everyone in my English household.

Anyway, Fart isn’t a swear word and Pumped isn’t cringe.

Just make sure you’re not pumping or being pumped in public 😂

ainsleysanob · 08/06/2026 20:25

5128gap · 08/06/2026 19:55

The polite thing would be to have said "Oh dear, I think Percy may have eaten something that disagreed with him mum. May I open a window?"

Haha! Who talks like this in front of their own family?! Except perhaps the Royals circa 1950!

fabstraction · 08/06/2026 20:24

It's definitely not a swear word, but I wouldn't use it around many people. My mother would probably be surprised if I started talking about farts in her presence, but I can't imagine her saying anything about it. I doubt she would say anything to me if I used an actual swear word when speaking to her, either, though she might wonder if I was losing my mind and would definitely discuss it with my father and sister!

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:23

Oh another one I remember. Blew off

Like Thomas blew off.

Another weird one.

DJKATIE · 08/06/2026 20:22

A fart is a fart, not a swear word at all

igelkott2026 · 08/06/2026 20:22

It's not a swearword but it is crude. I had to say "pump" as a child ;)

My son's childminder told me off for saying I was knackered. Is that rude?

Lexingtonavenueandme · 08/06/2026 20:21

I swear like a trouper and weirdly I absolutely hate that word. I won’t really know why. I never use it and I really don’t like hearing it. My parents never said it, my children never say it and I’ve never dated anyone who says it… i know what it is about it I just really don’t like it.

Thumber · 08/06/2026 20:20

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:17

My mum was on the phone with me the other day and I swear I felt the fart down the phone as well as heard it 😂😂 she goes yeah I just farted. I know. I heard it 😂😂

🤣🤣🤣 farts are funny (and so is the word)! People need to lighten up 🤣🤣🤣

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:19

eclecticwalls · 08/06/2026 20:18

I’m sure you’re ok in Royal company:

John Aubrey, in his Brief Lives, records the appearance of the Earl of Oxford (1550-1604) at the court of Elizabeth I:

“This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.”

Love it.

I bet they are actually the least likely to care. The proper toffs probably just see it as it is a natural thing that happens not something that’s shameful.

eclecticwalls · 08/06/2026 20:18

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:15

What’s polite company?

The king then yeah I wouldn’t fart nor would I announce one.

My mum? Well she’s wiped my arse 🤷🏻‍♀️ What’s a fart between between us 😂

A class room full of farting boys. Is exactly where I’d expect to hear it.

I’m sure you’re ok in Royal company:

John Aubrey, in his Brief Lives, records the appearance of the Earl of Oxford (1550-1604) at the court of Elizabeth I:

“This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.”

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:17

Thumber · 08/06/2026 20:16

This is hilarious!!! I am not close to my Mum but I can bloody well tell her if her cat farted on my lap 🤣

My mum was on the phone with me the other day and I swear I felt the fart down the phone as well as heard it 😂😂 she goes yeah I just farted. I know. I heard it 😂😂

TrayBakesAreSweet · 08/06/2026 20:16

HoppityBun · 08/06/2026 20:11

Well spotted. There’s nothing like having to explain a joke, is there? Thanks 🙄

Oh right. A joke. OK then …

VIII · 08/06/2026 20:16

ExOptimist · 08/06/2026 20:12

It is rude though. I hate hearing young children say it. It isn't a word to use in polite company, so I would not expect a child or adult to use it in the classroom at school for example.

How is the correct terminology rude?

I agree with those saying it's just a word and I cannot abide nonsensical terminology like pump, fluffy or break wind.

Thumber · 08/06/2026 20:16

This is hilarious!!! I am not close to my Mum but I can bloody well tell her if her cat farted on my lap 🤣

SingtotheCat · 08/06/2026 20:16

My mother used to almost fucking faint if I or one of my siblings said it when we were kids.
Dad used to say it occasionally and make us laugh. Mum used to get a right pisser on. Ridiculous.

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:15

ExOptimist · 08/06/2026 20:12

It is rude though. I hate hearing young children say it. It isn't a word to use in polite company, so I would not expect a child or adult to use it in the classroom at school for example.

What’s polite company?

The king then yeah I wouldn’t fart nor would I announce one.

My mum? Well she’s wiped my arse 🤷🏻‍♀️ What’s a fart between between us 😂

A class room full of farting boys. Is exactly where I’d expect to hear it.

ExOptimist · 08/06/2026 20:12

Caspianberg · 08/06/2026 19:44

I don’t think so. My child says fart. It’s just a word imo. He wouldn’t have a clue if someone said did you do a pop pop or puppetry puff or similar

He would simply say ‘ the cat has farted’. It’s not offensive it’s just a description

It is rude though. I hate hearing young children say it. It isn't a word to use in polite company, so I would not expect a child or adult to use it in the classroom at school for example.

Tableforjoan · 08/06/2026 20:11

Much rather a fart than a parp or a bottom burp or a pump or love puff or whatever else
stupid “cute” thing people want to call it.

It’s a fart it’s flatulence.

I also feel the same about people who call a vulva or vagina a flower, petal, fufu, tuppence, penny or any other again weird random name.

HoppityBun · 08/06/2026 20:11

TrayBakesAreSweet · 08/06/2026 20:08

What, like a carrot stick?

Well spotted. There’s nothing like having to explain a joke, is there? Thanks 🙄

ChaosQueenDarkfang · 08/06/2026 20:10

I thought Pump was a Scottish word for fart as I’ve not heard it outside of visiting family.

I for one take great pleasure in hollering “WHO PUMPED” at the top of my lungs in my broad Scottish accent at everyone in my English household.

Anyway, Fart isn’t a swear word and Pumped isn’t cringe.

TrayBakesAreSweet · 08/06/2026 20:08

HoppityBun · 08/06/2026 20:06

It’s not swearing but it’s a crudité

What, like a carrot stick?

HoppityBun · 08/06/2026 20:06

It’s not swearing but it’s a crudité

TrayBakesAreSweet · 08/06/2026 20:05

Not a swear word but, like a few pp’s, I hate it. Because of what it means, I imagine I can smell it, just by the word being said out loud. In fact I think I can smell it now just reading the word on my screen🤣