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 South Wales and it is considered a swear word here.
My colleague often says 'what a pain in the twat' which I find quite amusing.

To me it is a full on swear word.I can't say it just as I can't say c*.

YANBU it's very offensive.

It must be a regional thing, NW and it's right up there with cunt to me. I'm amazed some people don't think it's a swear word. The things you learn on MN

Definitely wouldn't allow the DCs to say it even though I don't think its that bad but then again I wouldn't allow them to say something like 'arse' either.

To me its not as bad as C* which i can't even say. About on par with fuck.

Yep North West here too and it's up there with cunt.
It's a bad un, but effective.

Not a swear word in Scotland, in fact my nieces' first teacher was a Mrs Twatt.

Shakesbooty I agree re cow, where I'm from it's highly offensive, meaning a complete slag. Since my bil told me the meaning of twat I don't use it but many do around here and would definitely see cow as worse.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, however didn't David Cameron get into a bit of bother by saying the T word a couple of years ago. He had no idea (about the t word).

Twat=cunt and anyone who thinks its unoffensive either doesn't know what it means or is highly liberated (this comes from
Someone who uses cunt descriptively and freelySo I'm
Not prim just reasonable

I'm in Scotland and have no idea where the idea comes from that's it not offensive here. It so is!

Im south east and its definitely used in the same way as twit or daft - even used instead of bashed like "ah, that door has just twat me on the head"

I remember being 14 and a friend visiting from the north west and him being aghast at me saying twat. He said cunt all the time, but twat was worse for him - he was shocked when I called someone a twat in conversation with my mum (and she won't even let me say fuck!)

Definitely an area divide on it!

Very rude!
(NW Eng too)

I'm in the south and I think it is a swear word.I certainly wouldn't want to hear a child say it!

I don't swear, but it's only recently that I had any idea Twat was not considered 'nice'. Such a pity, as I do rather like it. I'd never say C or F but would happily call someone a Twat, or even be happy to be called one myself.

I got cut off the radio (LBC) for using this word once. At the time I thought it was just a variant of twit/twunt. Oops!

Corus, bugger is way down that list for us. Ours is

Cunt
Fuck
Bollocks
Wanker
Shit
piss
Bugger

Twat isn't even on the list!

And im well known with friends for never saying cunt. Ever. Apart from about my ex husband once and the guy who crashed into my car and then drove off. Oh and my dad. Im 31 and I've said it three times!

Sweet jesus, has no one here a dictionary?

It is an offensive term for vagina. Always has been.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twat

Wikipedia granted, but even that says its not just got one use or meaning. Hence the different perceptions of it.

Corus I remember being shocked at Diana dors shouting slag in The Amazing Mr Blunden, a 1970s kids film. Language has definitely changed over years.