To think that this is a swear word

[Pigsmummy]

Twat.

My husband is adamant that it isn't a swear word and it might just be "midly offensive".

It came in conversation just now as last week I asked his Brother not to say it in front of our 16 month old and his brother didn't think that it was an offensive word.

I do not want my child saying this word or other swear/offensive words.

I'm in Yorkshire and I'd say it's on a part with "cunt" here. "Twat" is possibly marginally less offensive but also more vulgar, so I would expect a sweary middle class woman to say "fuck" and "cunt", I'd be surprised if she used "twat".

I grew up in Yorkshire and it was interchangeable with twit then.
Things must've changed since I left.

I am from the south east and didn't have a clue it was an offensive word as it had always been used akin to twit where I grew up (not in a sweary house or location at all).

I unwittingly referred to someone in the office as a twat (east anglia) and was amazed at the shock around because I didn't normally swear. I didn't realise I had!! Someone had to explain it to me. I have tried not to use it since then though.

When DS says it's not a swear word now I say that some people are offended, some aren't but those that are are very offended so not to use it at all.

You learn something new x here (Birmingham) twat is really offensive. Not as bad as cunt but not far off. Interesting to here it has regional differences.

I used twat for years as a variant of twit.
I still use it because it's a great word.
I swear. I think the 'people who swear have a limited vocabulary' argument is utter bollocks.

I am pretty sweary (when with adult close friends), but never use twat or the 'c' word...can't even type it, as they are really misogynistic. And very crude. (From south west originally, now south east).

All swearing from children sounds awful IMHO. I don't allow 'crap' 'bum' or 'idiot'...which sounds very strict but IME children don't differentiate words well and will quickly gravitate from calling their sibling an idiot to another much worse word because they don't perceive the 'grades' and subtleties of swear words and when they can be used.

Aelfrith
I understand what you mean about idiot except that's not really the word is it, it's the intent.
My DD has sworn, my DS is 20 and swears but they are never rude to each other.
I wouldn't punish my DC if they dropped something on their foot and said 'shit' but if they said 'you are (anything unecessary/unkind) ' to each other I would.

Agree Pagwatch. Swearing and 'insulting someone/name calling' are two different things (though obvs they do overlap).

Gosh, I'm on the NW and it's definitely a swearword here!! In the category of "c" word and "f" word.

Wow I hadn't realised 'twat' is an accepted word in some regions. Its not far behind 'cunt' for me. I have to say I don't cringe so much at 'cunt' having been on MN for a while now.

It absolutely is a swear word! I wouldn't ever wish to hear a child saying it.

Hmm, the regional thing is intresting. It is almost on a par with cunt. I'm northern.

Im in London, i wouldn't say its a swear word, if it is its not on a par with cunt. Although to be honest I have never noticed my teenagers using the word twat im going to ask DD17 what she thinks it means.

Pigsmummy if a kid in my class said it (primary) they would be spoken to and disciplined. The severity of which would depend on the context and the child's understanding of the word.

Yes IMO it is definitely a swear word (and a bad one). I'm in london.

In my secondary school, there was a game stall that came out at every summer fayre called 'Twat the Rat'. It's name was painted on it .

It's just a little bit rude to me.

Isn't it the intent more than anything?

I can say to one of my friends 'you twat' and she would think nothing of it. We wouldn't be offended.

If a complete stranger got into my face and screamed twat at me then yes i'd find it highly offensive.

Ignore my rogue apostrophe, my phone is determined to embarrass me.

I don't put it in the same group of swear words such as fuck, shit, cunt, wanker etc etc...but I still class it as an offensive term and certainly not a word I would say in front of family or children.

I think it's pretty down the middle. I have been aware of it's affect as both strong and mild. Got bollocked for once calling my brother a twat, (by my southern father). But have always used it to mean twit.

I think it's appeal is that it sounds more punchy. I don't feel as though I'm insulting women's genitalia when I say twat. Just as I don't when I say cunt. Equally, cock is bandied about but we don't worry about upsetting men?

Think twat is on par with tits. Just silly but harsh sounding. After all how can boobies be offensive

Don't like/wouldn't want dd (8) using any of them though. I tell her off when she says butt, picked up from American tv.

see around here (belfast), swear words are in sentences, so much so you begin to not notice them, they replace 'ummm' when you pause in a sentence
E.g- 'I was round in tesco in the... fucking...drinks aisle went I bumped into whats her bake...fucking... Jane.

Used to it, twat is water off a ducks back.

(I not condoning this BTW, its just the way it goes, I however make a conscious effort not to swear, as I am a good girl )

killpeppa I have been known to utter the phrase "my cunting car is broken again"

My mum uses the word twat - she had no idea of the connotation. I remember it being used when I was a kid in a "sit down & stop twatting about" way.

to me its a proper swear word, the same as cunt.

If I heard anyone saying it in front of or to a child I would be shocked

I'm NW and I would put it on a par with cunt.

Interestingly, I can still remember being sent out of class in primary school for saying I was 'knackered'.

I swear a lot, shit, bastard etc but I'd think twice before saying twat or cunt.

I consider it to be a swear word and definitely wouldn't want my 7yo saying it.