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The Daily Insight

How many times does the average person curse in a day?

Author

Abigail Rogers

Updated on March 17, 2026

4. You'll Swear 80 Times. This is another figure that I'm shocked is so high, but apparently the most average of us will curse 80 times over the course of a day — more than three times per hour.

Similarly, how many curse words does the average person say a day?

People have actually measured the frequency of swearing in "average" people. If the average person uses 15,000 to 16,000 words each day (and I know people who use a whole lot more than that) the average person uses 80-90 swear words each day.

Similarly, what are the 13 bad words? You're left with a short list of 13 words:

  • Asshole.
  • Dyke.
  • Fag.
  • Shit.
  • Damn.
  • Fuck.
  • Jerkoff.
  • Ass.

Furthermore, what is the average age to curse?

However, children do not appear yet to be using worse swear words than in the past — just common swear words more often, according to the new research. When young children swear before the age of 2 or 3 years old, they are usually just repeating what they have heard.

How can I stop cussing?

To train yourself to stop swearing, slide a rubber band around your wrist and pull it every time you swear so it snaps your skin. This will cause you to associate pain with swear words and can prevent you from using them. To learn how to pay attention to your swearing habits to change your speech patterns, read on!

Related Question Answers

How common is cursing?

Research. Analyses of recorded conversations reveal that an average of roughly 80–90 words that a person speaks each day – 0.5% to 0.7% of all words – are swear words, with usage varying from 0% to 3.4%.

When should you stop cursing around baby?

Prevention is best. “When young children swear before the age of 2 or 3 years old, they are usually just repeating what they have heard”, Dr Travis Wright writes at The Washington Post.

Why do people swear?

Abusive swearing, intended to offend, intimidate or otherwise cause emotional or psychological harm. Cathartic swearing, used in response to pain or misfortune. Dysphemistic swearing, used to convey that the speaker thinks negatively of the subject matter, and to make the listener do the same.

Why you shouldn't swear in front of kids?

that exposure to ordinary profanity -- four-letter words -- causes any sort of direct harm: no increased aggression, stunted vocabulary, numbed emotions or anything else. Of course, parents aren't holding their tongues solely because they think hearing a bad word will turn their kid into a criminal.

How does swearing affect the brain?

Swearing is one activity that engages both sides of your brain, the language center in the left brain and the emotional center in your right brain. This may be why people who have trouble speaking, such as stroke victims or stutterers, are often able to speak more easily when they curse.

What do you do when your child swears at you?

Avoid laughing or getting angry. Stay calm and ignore the word. Give attention and praise when your child uses polite language. If the swearing is because of anger or frustration, you can help your child name those emotions – for example, 'I can see you're really angry/frustrated'.

Will swearing harm my child?

Of course, there are caveats. Swearing at your kids in anger is a terrible idea. that exposure to ordinary profanity -- four-letter words -- causes any sort of direct harm: no increased aggression, stunted vocabulary, numbed emotions or anything else.

How do I get my 5 year old to stop cursing?

Here are some tips to help you respond if your child swears:
  1. Don't overreact.
  2. No matter what age your child is, address it immediately and calmly.
  3. Nip it in the bud.
  4. Ask your child first whether he or she understands the word.
  5. Don't be tempted by YouTube fame.
  6. Be honest.
  7. Find new words.
  8. Create consequences.

When did curse words become curse words?

The history of curse words and profanity was part of spoken words in medieval era. The word fuck was used in English in the fifteenth century, though the usage in earlier times of 13th century was not with abusive intent.

Why do we swear when in pain?

Swearing in response to pain may activate the amygdala which in turn triggers a fight-or-flight response. This then leads to a surge in adrenaline, a natural form of pain relief.

What's wrong with profanity?

They found that cursing is associated with negative emotions such as sadness (21.83%) and anger (16.79%) thus showing people in the online world mainly use curse words to express their sadness and anger towards others.

What are the effects of swearing?

Recent work by Stephens et al. even shows that swearing is associated with enhanced pain tolerance. This finding suggests swearing has a cathartic effect, which many of us may have personally experienced in frustration or in response to pain.

Is the F word profanity?

Profanity means swear words. The adjective is 'profane'. Profanities can also be called curse ("cuss") words, dirty words, bad words, foul language, obscenity, obscene language, or expletives. It can be called swearing, although this also has a normal meaning of making a "solemn promise".

What episode does SpongeBob curse?

"Sailor Mouth" is the first segment of the 18th episode of the second season, and the 38th overall episode of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Why is SpongeBob bad?

Researchers report that 4-year-olds who had just watched the fast-paced fantasy cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants” — which follows the undersea adventures of a yellow sponge — did worse on tests of attention and problem-solving than young children who watched a slower-paced educational program or spent time drawing.

Who invented curse words?

In English, swear words and curse words tend to have Germanic rather than Latin etymology. Shit has a Germanic root, as likely does fuck. The more technical alternatives are often Latin in origin, such as defecate or excrete and fornicate or copulate respectively.

What makes a curse word a curse word?

A curse implies damning or punishing someone, while a swear word suggests blasphemy — invoking a deity to empower your words. For the sake of modern discussion, both words are defined as profanity: vulgar, socially unacceptable language you don't use in polite conversation.

How many curse words are there?

Take a list of eighty-four commonly used swear words. Of the eighty-four words, twenty-nine are spelled with four letters. By this count, then, just over a third of profane words are four-letter words.

Where did swearing come from?

In English, swear words and curse words tend to have Germanic rather than Latin etymology. Shit has a Germanic root, as likely does fuck. The more technical alternatives are often Latin in origin, such as defecate or excrete and fornicate or copulate respectively.

What season is sailor mouth SpongeBob?

Sailor Mouth. Episode no. "Sailor Mouth" is the first segment of the 18th episode of the second season, and the 38th overall episode of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The episode was directed by Andrew Overtoom, and was written by Walt Dohrn, Paul Tibbitt, and Merriwether Williams.

Do all languages have swear words?

Not all taboo language counts as swear words. Some taboo language is still strong language, even if we don't think of it as 'swearing' – racial epithets, insults based on disabilities and sexual orientation – but some relates to things you avoid naming because of their power.

Is swearing freedom of speech?

The First Amendment protects a great deal of offensive, obnoxious and repugnant speech. If a person engages in profane fighting words or utters a true threat with profanity, those words may not be protected speech.

Why is swearing good for you?

Scientifically speaking, swearing is good for you. It deadens pain and enlivens our emotional discourse. We know that its effects are physiological as well as psychological; it raises our heart rates and releases adrenaline whether we use it.

What is the point of a swear jar?

A swear jar (also known as a swear box, swearing jar, cuss jar, or cuss bank) is a device to help discourage people from swearing. Every time someone utters a swear word, others who witness it collect a "fine", by insisting that the offender put some money into the box.

What does it mean when someone says swear?

What does I swear mean? I swear is used to make an oath of honesty, particularly in legal settings. In less formal use, I swear is used for emphasis or exaggeration when sharing something exciting, frustrating, or hard to believe.