Talk:Twat

"Changing Use" Section

Removed section about young people in the north not knowing what Twat originally means. No citation, and in my personal experience (I am a 21-year-old from Sheffield) not in fact true. Left reference to "twatting" someone and onomatopoeia. Catachresis 14:18, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

Next step

Next step - when and how did this become a vulgarity? -- BD2412 ^talk 04:51, 2005 Jun 22 (UTC)

This article has been kept following this VFD debate. Sjakkalle (Check!) 1 July 2005 09:18 (UTC)

See Twat v. Browning January 19, 2005, Language Log. Tearlach 13:23, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

To twat

To twat a twat = Ouch?

I'm very suspicious of that. Moved to Talk pending source verification. The term does deserve mention, however, as the title of a Nirvana bootleg album. Tearlach 14:38, 7 August 2005 (UTC) A vagina or "pussy" that huge cocks are shoved into.

Doubtful text

Unsourced claim posted by single-edit 80.229.139.41 (talk · contribs)

In the UK, "Twat" is considered more expletive and insulting than "Cunt" and is used primarily against a person who has total disregard for others or is utterly abhorrant. It can be said that "half the cars on the road are driven by cunts and the other half by twats" meaning (firstly) "idiots who don't know how to drive" and (secondly) "morons who drive with total disregard". As with all expletives, it can be used either as an insult or as a "term of endearment" (used only to VERY close, broad-minded, male friends). E.G. "He's a right twat - I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him" or "what an absolute twat" or "Now then yer dozy twat - where you been? I haven't seen you in ages!"

Cunt is definitely more expletive and insulting in my experience. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.101.192.137 (talk) 00:22, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

archaic?

Before I edit, I'd strongly query the comment that the word is "increasingly becoming archaic". It is in regular usage here in Australia (although it does not carry the intensity it carries in the UK). Is it becoming archaic in the USA?

The only time I can ever recall hearing it in the US was in Blazing Saddles, which is over twenty years old. The term is still very popular in the UK. Editing. Thumper 19:16, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

I live in England, the word twat is in frequent use.

Non gay?

I have removed the unsubstantiated assertion that 'twat' is a 'non-gay' term. What in earth could this mean? Are there words that are gay and words that are non-gay?81.107.211.98 22:22, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Taboo words

I strongly disagree with the assertion that "twat" is considered in the UK to be a more offensive word than "cunt." "Cunt" remains the most taboo swear word of all. By comparison "twat" is a relatively mild term. There may be no logic in this, since the words have essentially the same meaning, but there it is. 82.2.87.221 22:27, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

I would go on to further assert that "cunt" remains the most taboo word in all regional variants of English, and certainly in the US, UK and Australia. Manning 03:20, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Vulgar

"Twat is a vulgar expression for the human vagina."

Isn't that POV? Who's to declare what is vulgar and what isn't? I dont consider twat to be a vulgar word . It's a slang word and probably a swear word, but "vulgar"? I wouldn't say that definate. I think it should be reworded. Visitors can work out for themselves if it's vulgar or not. --Hugzz 12:57, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

There's no such thing as a non-vulgar swear word. Don't be ridiculous. Chris Cunningham 11:56, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

on the contrary: blueblooded, "classy" Brits say "mickey" instead of "piss" in the ubiquitous "take the ... out" expression. "Piss" is vulgar and profane, so slurring the Irish is the classy, non-vulgar way to express this particular swear. 68.123.141.33 18:05, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

"Fool"

I live in England, as AFAIK the term generally means either a jerk or to hit (someone) hard - not "fool" per se. To me, it doesn't imply stupidity, merely that the subject is deliberately or uncaringly annoying... can someone else verify its use to mean "fool"? Tyrhinis 15:44, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

Whilst I've not heard the word used alone to mean 'fool', I have frequently heard (and occasionally used) an expression such as 'daft twat' to convey this meaning. In my experience such use is in contrast to the usual aggressive nature of the word, and is typically used in a joking and affectionate manner amongst friends. 78.33.70.38 (talk) 20:55, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Vandalism

Some recently vandalized this article, 82.17.48.146 was the source of it. I restored it back to the previous state. I guess the guy that vandalized this could be conisidered a twat. Sayanora. REN 02:44, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

"Twat" less vulgar in Australia?

Is it fair to say that "twat" is a more acceptable word in Australia than here in the UK?

I was in Melbourne recently, and saw an Aussie episode of Big Brother - some of the housemates were quite openly calling each other twats (bear in mind that this show airs at 7pm). In Britain, one would expect this word to be "bleeped" out on any programme broadcast before 9pm. 217.155.20.163 21:04, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

To twat = to hit

The last paragraph in the article is being deliberately demeaning about this use of the verb, implying that it is only used by people who don't understand the meaning of the word. This is rubbish: using twat to mean to hit has been standard use for all ages since I was a lad (over 30 years ago), it may also bear an etymology from the Yorkshire verb "bat" meaning to hit.

---

I'm not english so I won't edit the main page for fear of being irrelevant/OOT (I'll leave that to native speakers), but in the british series "Shameless", season 2, episode 1, 11 minutes and 15 seconds into the show, one character (Veronica) says to another, in a menacing tone: "Karen, give me the keys unless you want a twatting". While it does not confirm the term has been used in the "hitting" sense for a long time, it does confirm it is nowadays, at least in Manchester, England where the show is located. This particular episode has been broadcast for the first time in the UK on Jan 4, 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shameless). Not sure whether it can be used as a ref, though.

Graphic Display of Aritcle's Subject

I'm thinking that what this article needs is some sort of graphic representation, so readers can get a feel for what exactly a twat is. I'm going on a blind date tonight (first date in two years and I'm excited, wish me luck LOL!). I could probably get a snap-shot of a twat for inclusion in this article if I play my cards right. Let me know and I'll post the picture up here as soon as I get it. Peace. Kitler005 16:13, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

the date didn't go so well :( sorry guys Kitler005 17:57, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm not surprised.--Hugh7 21:55, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Where the christ are we ever going to find a picture of a twat, now, then? you let us down, Kitler005. I'll start writing a grant proposal so we can get a survey study underway. Once it's peer reviewed, maybe it will yield something that can take the mystery out of this article. 68.123.141.33 17:58, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Picture

There current picture is a bit ridiculous, no? Someone put up a picture of himself. Does anyone care to delete it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.182.78.230 (talk • contribs)

I deleted it, but then it got restored. I agree, it's irrelevant to the article. =Axlq 16:31, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Inherently funny word

The term may be an inherently funny word

That phrase implies that there is such a thing, which is a bit silly when the article on inherently funny words makes no such claim (and quite rightly). Not that I think it should be removed; just rephrased. Unfortunately I can't think of anything other than "Some consider the term…" which sounds pretty weak, and is unsourced (not that the existing phrase is sourced). — TheJames 12:55, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Zero

I'm from the uk, and I've never heard Twat used to mean 'Zero'. Anyone else?

  Me either. That's bollocks. 81.168.45.231 16:51, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

Twat

Can we have a pic? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.218.129.168 (talk) 18:12, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

The War Against Terror

T.W.A.T :D —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.158.153.122 (talk) 11:34, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Removed from article. If you can find a citation for this, it can go back in. ;C Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 19:39, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Willy wonka

Veruka Salt uses it it the movie to refer to her father's factory workers opening up the wonka bars to find the spoiled brat a golden ticket —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.227.186.97 (talk) 16:47, 3 May 2008 (UTC)

To my knowledge she calls them twerps, not twats.78.33.70.38 (talk) 21:03, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Trivia Section

I've returned the Trivia section after it was removed. While WP:Trivia states that they are to be discouraged, it specifically does not suggest removing the sections. It might be worth looking at how to incorporate this information into the article, though, and possibly trimming it back a bit. - Bilby (talk) 02:31, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

I've removed it again. Trivia is best avoided, but is sometimes acceptable on a subject where the ammount of trivia can be finite - e.g. trivia on a specific film or book may be OK. In this case, however, the 'Cultural References' section was just a completely arbitrary list of songs, films, anything that contains the word 'twat'. Such a list is a potentially bottomless bag, & serves no purpose. If we're going to do this for 'twat', then why not do the same for every swear word? Imagine a list of any random use of the word 'fuck', for example - it would contain every second film from the past thirty years, & it would not focus on the subject at all. You'll notice that the WP article for 'fuck' does not contain such a trivia section, & for good reasons. There is no reason why the 'twat' article should have this kind of trivia. Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 19:36, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Also removed some redundant definitions which were synonymous with others. Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 23:47, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Vulgar / Offensive

Several edits have been made to this page claiming that some uses of the word are non-vulgar or non-offensive in the UK. This is not true, and neither is it substantiated in the source which is being cited (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A753527). Look up 'twat' in any dictionary, including Wiktionary, & you will see either 'vulgar' or 'offensive' or both against the definitions. It is always considered a rude word (& so is not used on British television other than late evening), & when applied to a person is always considered offensive. How offensive may depend on the context & perception (e.g. may be less offensive when used jokingly between close friends) but the same goes for any kind of insult; it doesn't stop it being an offensive word. Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 22:41, 7 July 2008 (UTC)

From the reference, it is widely used in the UK as a slightly more expressive form of 'twit'3 or 'idiot',. I have heard this used meaning twit many times "what twat left the tap running", etc. -- Q Chris (talk)

That doesn't stop it being an offensive or vulgar word. Most pejoratives could be used in that context ("what stupid cunt left the tap running?"). To say that this kind of use is not vulgar or offensive is misleading. Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 11:03, 8 July 2008 (UTC)

No if you watch the TV characters and so on that say it you will see that it is not in the same context. It is used where people would not be vulgar, e.g. in front of parents and so on. -- Q Chris (talk) 11:19, 8 July 2008 (UTC)

Can you cite an example of that? I doubt you will find an example where 'twat' is used on TV during family viewing times. What words people use in front of their parents depends on the context of their relationship with their parents & their own attitude to swearing. However, that does not alter the fact that 'twat' falls into the category of vulgar language: it is not thought of as a polite word to use in front of children, strangers, on daytime television, etc. Weasel Fetlocks (talk) 12:22, 8 July 2008 (UTC)

In my experience, the usage varies from area to area within the UK. As someone from South Manchester, it is to me the softest of schoolboy insults. In the words of a colleague "what you called your mother if she gave you the wrong sandwhich". But mention it in London and watch the women take offence. Thus the difference of views above. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Crantock (talk • contribs) 22:58, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Twat is interchangeable with "twit" in ye olde dialect of Cheshire/Lancashire. Its usage is dated in the same way the usage of "gay" to mean "happy" is dated. Jacqueline Wilson made that mistake apparently[1]. Twat also doesn't have the same meaning all the time depending on context. It's not a polite word in most modern uses, but we used to have teachers that'd tell us to twat the ball. Someone like Blaster Bates, if you listen to his recordings, you'll find him at it all the time. As did/does Fred Dibnah. You'd have to find one of the old books by them, or a transcript of one of Bates shows. Anyway, it's a bit antiquated.--Koncorde (talk) 21:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Unknown term 'exclisitive'

The article uses the term 'exclisitive' -- what does that mean? —Christian Campbell 03:48, 9 November 2008 (UTC)