The word 'cunt'

[Theroadtomandalay]

Why is it, 'cunt' is an accepted word to use when calling other people names?

I know that is not 'nice' to do so, but it seems like a 'non frowned upon' term to use in informal settings if someone is really really horrible.

I really don't get it! Why use a (very important) part of the female anatomy to insult someone.

For me it seems like the ultimate way to demean a woman's body, and I am so surprised, when other women use that word.
However, I am not from an english speaking country, so perhaps I am missing something- please enlighten me.

Well my "circles" in Glasgow must be a little different to those protesting my clsim. I'm Glasgow born and raised and round ma bit cunt a multi-purpose but it can be used affectionately amongst friends.

Perhaps the nae sayers are kelvinside types?

Fuck off, cunt.

So expressive.

He's a cunt. She's a complete cunt.
Cunty McCuntface.

You suppurating cunt. (That doesn't look right, spellcheck ssys that's it.)

Night, you cunts.

In Scotland it's used so often now it's not always derogatory or an insult anymore, It can even be 'he's a gud cunt' as in 'it's ok he's alright' 😁

And I live near Edinburgh... so it's not just a Glasgow thing 😁

Grew up in Glasgow but I’ve lived in various places in the central belt, now in Ayrshire. Cunt is used widely from all classes IME. I’d say it’s about 50/50 on it being an insult or not.

Really surprised people living in Glasgow haven’t heard anyone saying it! You hear it all the time! You’d have to actively not listen to anyone else. On trains, at work, in cafes/restaurants etc etc

It's not offensive and I've never known anyone to be offended by it. It's too common.

Really surprised people living in Glasgow haven’t heard anyone saying it!

To be fair of all the Glaswegians I’ve met - and I’ve met many of them - only a couple use it regularly.

Its possible that glaswegians alter how they speak depending on who they are speaking to, code switching I suppose. I speak one way with my family and friends who are from my area i.e. lots of scots, slang and my accent is much broader. When I meet up with my friends from uni (in Edinburgh) then I probably clean it up a bit. This isn't an attempt to fit in or hide who I am as they all know my background but its just to make myself better understood in mixed company. So its quite possible that glaswegians (and of course scots in general) you know would talk differently to you than they would to their old friends and family.

I’m Scottish- it’s a term of endearment, or simply an interchangeable way to address someone.

I.e ‘that man’ is easily replaced with ‘that Cunt’

I think it's misogynistic that cunt is deemed more offensive than prick, cock etc so we should reclaim the word.

I’ve said this before on here that I will never truly be a proper MNer because I can’t even type the C word, let alone say it.

Lots of people around me in real life bandy it around without a thought. It just sounds horrible to me. Every other sentence features it and it does go through me. I’m no snob, I live in a HA property on a mainly HA estate on the outskirts of Liverpool and it’s very much overused here

"But no woman with any sense calls her bits a c u know what. Let’s cast it off as a crude swear word and stop pretending it means vagina at all."

In bed/dirty talk or in general? I've never heard a woman irl refer to it as a cunt in general conversation, eg it would be "the babys kicking me in the fanny/doot/bits again" etc. In bed/as dirty talk I find it a turn off, have had blokes refer to it as my cunt in bed, but non of the women I've been with has refered to it as that.

Really surprised people living in Glasgow haven’t heard anyone saying it! You hear it all the time! You’d have to actively not listen to anyone else. On trains, at work, in cafes/restaurants etc etc

Glaswegian here - I've personally never used the word in conversation as a term of endearment or insult, none of those I associate with do either. None of us prissy types at all. Of course I've heard it used on trains, streets etc - but not commonly.
Can't imagine what restaurant would tolerate diners using that language at all - seen a drunk bloke ejected in a restaurant for using the F word over and over again - several diners complained. probably wouldn't have got ejected from a pub though.

@Butterer

I personally don't mind it in bed - I'll run screaming if anyone of either sex uses the word 'pussy' in a context other than talking about my cat though.

Oh God yes, "pussy" makes me cringe! Sarah Silverman does a funny bit about the word pussy and how to make it sound even worse. It's very funny.

Ugly, offensive word. Would never dream of using under any circumstances.

@LuluBellaBlue

Cunt derives from the word meaning goddess!

Nah, it derives from cuniculus, the Latin for tunnel or burrow. Same derivation as cunning, and coney (old word for rabbit). I like having cunning bits. Better than vagina, which means sheath - for some man's dick sword

this is a word I just think is gross, not because its female but just because it is horrible

I feel exactly the same - it is such an ugly word!

I daresay I subconsciously object to the misogynistic way it is used, to, but the very sound put it is offensive to the ear.

Nah, it derives from cuniculus, the Latin for tunnel or burrow. Same derivation as cunning, and coney (old word for rabbit). I like having cunning bits. Better than vagina, which means sheath - for some man's dick sword

That's interesting - and a delightful derivation.

Still a vile word, though.

I don't even think of womens bits when I use it. Pussy is one I associate with the vagina, but not cunt really because nobody much uses it to refer to that anymore.

I like to use it as an insult because of the way it sounds. I don't know if it's the hard c on the front and the t on the end, but it just sounds so cutting 😉

I use it and hear it a lot. I am from North London, most people I grew up with talk to each other like a a Guy Ritchie film. It’s not even used as an insult, it can be used as a friendly term or endearment.

I use it because I have reclaimed it. It doesn’t hurt me. I gave taken its older meaning and it’s power away. It’s just a word, I am not actually saying “nice to see you Tim, you massive vagina”.

Cunt is UNBELIEVABLY offensive. It is more offensive than dick because women have less power than men. . Just as it is more rude to make insulting references to people by the hue of their skin if they are not white because we live in a world where white people have more power than non-white people.

Cunt is UNBELIEVABLY offensive

The fact that people react like this to the word is precisely what gives it it's power as a swear word/insult. The look on the face of some people if you call them that