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.

Wow I think it's a terrible word!! Very very sweary! I do use it occasionally though but usually only when having a coffee with my best friends when we say it for more comedy purposes :) my friend uses it quite frequently - she came out with it at toddlers once - it sounded offensive but funny at the same time as several of the alpha mums nearly fell off their chairs :)

It's not offensive. It basically means the same as twit. So in answer to the OP not a swear word.

OP it's obvious from this that many people do think it's a swear word and find it offensive. To save your baby embarrassment it seems better than he doesn't learn to use it.

I was always told it was hugely offensive, as is cunt.

I've started using the word twit but saying it with the same vigour.

I think there are two separate issues here:

what words do you want to be considered taboo in your home?

and

to what extent can you police the rest of the world so that your dc never hears these words at all?

This is not just about swear words, it is about each and every issue from table manners to asking for the lavatory. At each and every turn your lo will be confronted with manners and language that are different to what s/he meets at home. She will hear her friends at playschool, she will hear other parents in the school playground. It is your job to assert your own parenting regardless of what other people do.

I am very strict about using religious terms as I am a Christian myself and we have very devout friends who would be offended. So dc know that this is a no-no at home or with certain other families. But I can't stop the whole rest of the world from using those common expressions.

Greater Manchester here, on a par with cunt. Hugely offensive.

It's ona par with 'bloody' on this house.

Here in Lancashire it's hugely offensive. Means the same as cunt and I'm not allowed to say it in front of my mum and I'm 35.

I say cunt. Probably type it more than say it though. I am an equal opportunity swearer but one has to reign things in for the PTA etc. I mean, cripes!

Twat is a bad swear word in my house. Akin to fuck. Cubit is the Daddy though.

Cunt not cubit. Mary Whitehouse iPhone

I heard twat for the first time about eight years ago, and assumed it was a northern version of 'twit'.

I'd only heard northerners use it, and was gobsmacked when I discovered what it supposedly meant on here.

I bet loads of people think it's interchangeable with 'twit'.

Swear word in my social circles.

I don't consider it a very bad word and it is often said in my house. It's only recently that I've heard it called a swear word.

Around here it can be a surname, but spelled Twatt

My mum says twat. Therefore it cannot be at all rude. She reckons.

It's not swearie,but it's not complimentary either

Southerncomforts I use 'knackered' a lot but my mother thinks it's very rude; she says it means 'castrated'! I've no idea if thats' true.

She prefers to say 'banjaxed' which I think sounds much ruder!

Offensive to me. I'd say it's worse than 'wanker', not as bad as 'fuck' or 'cunt'.

I think the meaning is a bit of a red herring though, after all 'willy', 'dick' and 'cock' are all different levels of offensive. Likewise 'shag' and 'fuck'.

This has been an education to me. Not a word I use but assumed it meant prat or twit - I am in south east.

Perfectly acceptable for some people to use as its part of their address!

I remember having a conversation about this word with some Scottish ladies, I think from the central/fife area and they had said it was 'idiot' or a smack, whereas with my NW roots it is hugely offensive. However, they pointed out that calling someone a 'cow' in their area was hugely offensive whereas I could call my mum a silly cow and it would be very lighthearted. She'd deck me if I called her the t word

I don't think twat is that bad (South East) but my friends DH (from the North) uses the word cunt regularly thinks twat is worse

brunette I always assumed the same

rule of thumb. a child would be told not to use that word in school as it's a swear word.

your dh needs to respect your wishes as does his brother,