To ask what a 'numpty' is where you live and if it's offensive?

[Eeepsh]

Around here (South East) it means being a bit of a twit and is usually used with affection but I use it about my son and someone from East Anglia area was horrified!

Just wondering if it's a regional thing.

Gentle Parenting?

Perthshire. Definitely affectionate and used mainly in the family for someone who has been a bit daft about something. Or maybe dropped something

South Wales - maybe mildly insulting but not much - not as strong as twat - maybe similar to twonk - and the Welsh twp. Actually it’s one of my favourite words, it has such a satisfying ring to it.

I think it's a bit like "twat" in meaning and in ability to cause offence. Both terms mean someone who's behaving in a daft manner, some people find it offensive and others don't.

Not offensive at all!
I'm from Scotland. We call our children numptys if they've been a bit silly. They call us numpty's as soon as they can talk! Harmless

I don't know what that means (but, i will google).

Shock horror - i haven't ever called my children names, raised a hand to them etc etc.

If that means not calling my children names which i would find offensive and mean then, i guess i am! I have lovely, compassionate Children that have good educations and have gone on to give back a lot to society with their chosen careers.

We're in East Anglia and round here it just means being a bit of a twit as well. No idea why anyone would find it offensive.

Manchester here. Like most insults, I think it depends how it’s used. I think of it as meaning idiot or dafty. If shouted and preceded by effing, quite offensive. If said to someone affectionately for doing something silly, not offensive.

Just googled it! I hope that i am 'gentle parenting'!!

"Gentle parenting is an evidence-based approach to raising happy, confident children. This parenting style is composed of four main elements—empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries—and focuses on fostering the qualities you want in your child by being compassionate and enforcing consistent boundaries"

Shame them? Calling someone a numpty is pretty much the same as calling them a silly sausage.

@Bellaboo01 ‘Sweetie, Lovely, Special - Yes.

Numpty - No!’

Use numpty all the time, South East, honestly don’t know a person who thinks it’s offensive.

However, ‘special’ is definitely considered offensive. My kids say that is a really rude way of talking about someone!

Oh jeeze I always say that 😬

East Anglia- a very gentle way of calling someone a silly sausage. Not endearing necessarily but not deathly offensive. I would say it to a friend but not a colleague

It's definitely not like this in Scotland and I remember being called it, with endearment, throughout my childhood. I teach in England now and fear saying almost anything to the children for fear of offense but have settled on 'silly banana' or 'silly billy' which in my childhood would have meant exactly these same as numpty. I find it a bit frustrating actually that a predominantly Scottish, inoffensive word has been deemed offensive in certain areas of England!

This. East Midlands but family come from Yorkshire and near London so a real mix.

A bit of a twit in a fond way. I use it regularly.

My BIL takes offence at this term so it must mean other things.

It's on the same level as wally, plonker or donut.

South East/Home Counties here.

Def a benign word your Granny might use- silly, being a fool but no edge to it at all.

Thats interesting - why would your child find calling them 'special' more offensive that calling them 'numpty'!?

There are plenty of people in my life that i refer to as special to me and i hope that they aren't offended by that. My child/Nieces/ Nephew for example is my 'special little boy/girl' If i called them 'A numpty' then everyone i know i think would find that an odd way to speak.

Cards i buy quite often say - 'to a special boy/ girl'. I've yet to come across one that says 'to a numpty'!

Definitely not similar. Numpty far less offensive.

"Where are my glasses?"
"They're on your head, you numpty!"

Glasgow. A bit daft. Affectionate

@Dotjones Twat is referencing female genitals- slightly more offensive!

Used interchangeably with (silly) sausage here. It's used more as a term of endearment when you are being a bit daft. I called DS a numpty just last night when he got his hoodie stuck on his head and needed me to rescue him.

Very different to twat. Twat is on par with cunt. I like numpty it's gentle. I also go with daft apath and silly ass. I've told this before but yrs ago my mil called my son a twat by accident I think she was going for twit. She was mortified when I said ' did you just call him name twat'. Even now it still raises a belly laugh ' mum remember when gran called me a twat?'