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Euphemism: Taboo words

Euphemisms are harmeless words or phrases that substitute offensive ones. It tends to be a positive word to cover the harsh and unpleasant reality. The eupheme is theopposite of blaspheme which means evil speaking. Euphemisms can be created phonetically, semantically or through slangs.

Phonetically speaking, it is used to replace profanities like “Jeez!” For Jesusor “What the-“ for what the hell. Also, using the first letter for example “you said the F word”. Mispronunciations and rhymes are also part of the phonetically created euphemisms, for example whenpeople say: “oh my gosh!” or “what the duck!”.

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Semantic euphemisms are used to describe things about sex, racism, death, drugs among others.

1. Abstractions: “a girl in trouble” forpregnancy or “going to the other side” for death.

2. Ambiguities: “go to the bathroom”, “they sleep together”, general comments not specifying exactly what you really mean.

3.Understatements: “sleep” for death, “candy” for drugs.

Slangs are used to soften the word, a less harsh term but with the similar meaning. Like “he was trashed” which is an euphemism for “he was drunk”, “pot” formarijuana, “batting for the other team” for homosexuals or “hitting a home run” meaning having sex on the first date.

Reverse understatements or “litotes” are also used quite a lot to be politewhen you want to say something you, may be, dislike. Like for example: “it is not that good” for “its bad”, or “he’s not so big” for “he is short” or using the phrase “mentally challenged” to describemental retardation.



Euphemisms can eventually become taboo words themselves through a process called Euphemism Treadmill that means that a word that was originally adopted as a euphemismacquires all the negative connotations of its referent, that is has to be replaced by a substitute. Also, to alter the pronunciation or spelling of a taboo word to form a euphemism is known as taboo...