Severity

Moderate

The middle register. Moderate fictional profanity is the workhorse of invented language — strong enough to carry weight in a scene, acceptable enough to air before the watershed.

69 entries in the archive

Battlestar Galactica·

Felgercarb

≈ “Bullshit / Crap

/FEL-ger-karb/noun

An expletive referring to putrid, crusty grime that accumulates on machinery. Used as an equivalent to bullshit or crap.

TVExpletive
The Good Place·

Fork

≈ “Fuck

/FORK/noun/verb/adjective/interjection

In the Good Place, a cosmic censorship filter automatically replaces all profanity. Eleanor's attempts to curse come out as 'fork,' 'shirt,' 'bench,' and 'ash-hole.'

TVExpletive
The Good Place·

Shirt

≈ “Shit

/SHURT/noun/interjection

The Good Place's automatic profanity filter replaces 'shit' with 'shirt.' Also appears as 'bullshirt.'

TVExpletive
The Good Place·

Bench

≈ “Bitch

/BENCH/noun

The Good Place filter's replacement for 'bitch.' Used as both noun and adjective ('son of a bench').

TVInsult
Farscape·

Dren

≈ “Shit / Crap

/DREN/noun

Farscape's equivalent of excrement, used both literally and as a general-purpose expression of disgust or frustration.

TVExpletive
Farscape·

Hezmana

≈ “Hell

/hez-MAH-nah/noun

Farscape's equivalent of Hell, used in exclamations like 'What the hezmana?' and 'Go to hezmana.'

TVOath
Farscape·

Mivonks

≈ “Balls / Testicles

/MIH-vonks/noun

Anatomical slang for testicles in Farscape. Used both literally and in figurative expressions about manipulation.

TVExpletive
Firefly / Serenity·

Gorram

≈ “Goddamn

/GOR-am/adjective/interjection

Firefly's frontier-flavored contraction of 'goddamn,' fitting the show's space-western aesthetic perfectly.

TVOath
Star Wars (The Mandalorian)·

Dank Farrik

≈ “Goddammit / Damn it

/DANK FAR-ik/interjection

An expression of frustration or astonishment in the Star Wars galaxy, equivalent to 'goddammit' or 'son of a bitch.' Popularized by The Mandalorian.

TVOath
Star Wars (Rebels)·

Karabast

≈ “Damn / Dammit

/KAIR-uh-bast/interjection

A Lasat exclamation expressing extreme irritation or surprise. Zeb's signature curse word in Star Wars Rebels.

TVExpletive
Star Wars (Splinter of the Mind's Eye)·

Stang

≈ “Damn / Hell

/STANG/interjection/noun

An Alderaanian expletive. One of the oldest invented swear words in the Star Wars expanded universe.

ComicExpletive
Star Wars (various)·

Sithspit

≈ “Shit / Damn

/SITH-spit/interjection/noun

A common curse in all eras of the Star Wars universe, expressing surprise, anger, or disgust. References the Sith as a source of cosmic evil.

ComicOath
Star Wars (various novels)·

Druk

≈ “Shit (literal excrement)

/DRUK/noun

An alien word literally meaning excrement. Used in compounds like 'a druk-load of problems.'

BookExpletive
Star Wars (Republic Commando novels)·

Dwang

≈ “Shit / Crap

/DWANG/noun

A euphemism for excrement used by clone troopers during the Clone Wars.

BookExpletive
Star Wars (Republic Commando novels)·

Shebs

≈ “Ass / Buttocks

/SHEBZ/noun

A Mandalorian swear word meaning buttocks. Used in insults and expressions of contempt.

BookExpletive
Artemis Fowl·

Mud Man / Mud People

≈ “Derogatory term for humans

/MUD-man/noun (slur)

The fairy term for humans, implying they are dirty, surface-dwelling primitives compared to the technologically advanced underground fairy civilization.

BookInsult
The Stormlight Archive·

Storming

≈ “Fucking / Damn (adjective)

/STORM-ing/adjective/interjection

The primary profane modifier in the Stormlight Archive. Derives from the devastating highstorms that dominate life on Roshar.

BookOath
Mistborn (Era 2)·

Rust and Ruin

≈ “God damn it / Jesus Christ

/RUST and ROON/interjection

A blasphemous exclamation invoking Ruin, one of the two primal gods of Scadrial. 'Rust' refers to the destructive force of entropy.

BookOath
The Wheel of Time·

Blood and bloody ashes

≈ “Goddammit / Son of a bitch

/blud and BLUD-ee ASH-ez/interjection

The Wheel of Time's most iconic oath. A compound profanity expressing extreme frustration, surprise, or anger.

TVOath
The Elder Scrolls (Morrowind)·

S'wit

≈ “Shit / Idiot

/SWIT/noun (insult)

A Dunmeri insult roughly equivalent to calling someone a fool or an idiot, with the vulgarity of calling them 'shit.'

GameInsult
The Elder Scrolls (Morrowind)·

Fetcher

≈ “Fucker / Bastard

/FETCH-er/noun (insult)

A Dunmeri insult used to describe someone contemptible. The exact denotation is unclear but carries strong negative connotations.

GameInsult
The Elder Scrolls·

Xuth

≈ “Damn / Shit

/ZOOTH/interjection

An Argonian (Jel language) exclamation used to express frustration or anger.

GameExpletive
The Elder Scrolls·

Kaoc

≈ “Crap / Shit

/KAY-ok/noun/interjection

Argonian (Jel) word for crap or excrement, used as a scatological expletive.

GameExpletive
Cyberpunk 2077·

Gonk

≈ “Idiot / Moron

/GONK/noun/adjective (insult)

Night City slang for an idiot or fool. Can be used as noun or adjective ('gonk move'). One of Cyberpunk's most beloved and adopted slang terms.

GameInsult
The Smurfs·

Smurf

≈ “Any word (universal substitute)

/SMURF/noun/verb/adjective/everything

The Smurfs replace nearly any word with 'smurf,' which when applied to profanity, creates implied swearing that can be shockingly vulgar in implication.

TVExpletive
Warhammer 40K (Gaunt's Ghosts)·

Gak

≈ “Shit / Crap

/GAK/noun

Scatological profanity in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, equivalent to 'shit' or 'crap.'

BookExpletive
Warhammer 40K·

Grox

≈ “Bastard / SOB (insult based on animal)

/GROKS/noun (insult)

A grox is a large, aggressive, notoriously ill-tempered beast in the 40K universe. Used as an insult comparing someone to this animal.

GameInsult
Shadowrun·

Drek

≈ “Shit / Crap

/DREK/noun

Standard scatological profanity in the Shadowrun universe. Equivalent to 'shit' or 'crap.'

GameExpletive
Known Space / Ringworld·

Tanj

≈ “Damn / Fuck (acronym)

/TANJ/interjection

An all-purpose swear word from Larry Niven's Known Space universe. Acronym for 'There Ain't No Justice.'

BookExpletive
Dragonriders of Pern·

Thread

≈ “Damn / Hell (as exclamation of dread)

/THRED/noun/interjection

Thread is the deadly, worm-like rain from space that destroys all organic material. Invoking it is like cursing with the name of the thing you fear most.

BookOath
Dragonriders of Pern·

Fewmets

≈ “Shit / Crap

/FYOO-mets/noun

Dragon droppings. Used as a general expletive among dragonriders who spend their days cleaning up after enormous dragons.

BookExpletive
DC Comics (Legion of Super-Heroes)·

Grife

≈ “Damn / Shit

/GRYFE/interjection

A 31st-century expletive used by the Legion of Super-Heroes. General-purpose expression of frustration.

ComicExpletive
Beast Wars: Transformers·

Slag

≈ “Bastard / Bitch / Expletive

/SLAG/noun/verb/interjection

The primary expletive in Beast Wars. Versatile — used as insult, exclamation, and modifier. In British English, 'slag' is already slang for 'slut.'

TVInsult
Transformers (various)·

Scrap

≈ “Shit / Damn

/SKRAP/noun/interjection

General-purpose Cybertronian expletive. Like 'slag,' it derives from mechanical/industrial processes appropriate for a robot civilization.

TVExpletive
Space Cases / Star Trek: New Frontier·

Grozit

≈ “Damn / Shit

/GROH-zit/interjection

A curse from the planet Xenex, used by Captain Mackenzie Calhoun. Also used in Space Cases by the same creator.

TVExpletive
Star Trek (novels)·

Frinx

≈ “Fuck / Damn

/FRINKS/interjection

A Ferengi exclamation used by Quark, expressing shock or dismay.

BookExpletive
Farscape·

Yotz

≈ “Hell / Damn (exclamation)

/YOTZ/interjection

A Hynerian exclamation roughly equivalent to 'hell.' Often used in compound 'boll-yotz' (bullshit).

TVExpletive
Dragon Age·

Sodding

≈ “Fucking (British mild)

/SOD-ing/adjective

The primary dwarven expletive in Dragon Age. Already a real (mild) British curse, it fits naturally for the dwarven culture.

GameExpletive
The Stormlight Archive·

Starving

≈ “Fucking / Damn (adjective)

/STAR-ving/adjective/interjection

Lift's personal curse word in the Stormlight Archive. Reflects her constant preoccupation with food and hunger.

BookExpletive
The Stormlight Archive·

Kelek's breath

≈ “God's blood / Christ almighty

/KEL-eks BRETH/interjection

An oath invoking Kelek, one of the ten Heralds (quasi-divine figures) of the Stormlight Archive. Using a Herald's name in vain is blasphemous.

BookOath
Babylon 5·

Shrok

≈ “Shit / Crap

/SHROK/noun/interjection

A Narn word roughly equivalent to 'shit' or 'crap.' Used by Narn characters on Babylon 5.

TVExpletive
The Wheel of Time·

Flaming

≈ “Fucking / Damn (adjective)

/FLAY-ming/adjective

A profane modifier in the Wheel of Time, used to intensify insults and express frustration. Often paired with 'bloody.'

TVExpletive
The Wheel of Time·

Goat-kissing

≈ “Annoying / Aggravating (adjective)

/GOHT-kiss-ing/adjective (insult)

An insult implying someone or something is as annoying as a person who kisses goats. Combines animal-related degradation with mild sexual implication.

BookInsult
Star Trek (various)·

Frinx / Frak (Star Trek context)

≈ “Damn / Shit

/FRINKS / FRAK/interjection

Various alien expletives used across the Star Trek franchise. Star Trek generally uses untranslated alien curses rather than invented English substitutes.

TVExpletive
Firefly / Serenity·

Gorramit

≈ “Goddammit (emphatic)

/GOR-am-it/interjection

The emphatic form of 'gorram,' adding the '-it' suffix just as 'goddamn' becomes 'goddammit.'

TVOath
Star Wars (High Republic)·

Crikk

≈ “Damn / Shit

/KRIK/interjection

The High Republic era's distinctive expletive, adding to the Star Wars galaxy's expanding vocabulary of fictional profanity.

ComicExpletive
South Park·

Mee krob

≈ “A curse word (meta joke)

/MEE KROB/noun

In the South Park episode where 'shit' is overused until it loses meaning, Cartman suggests 'mee krob' as a replacement bad word. It's a Thai appetizer, making the joke about the arbitrariness of linguistic taboo.

TVExpletive
Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire·

Seven Hells

≈ “God damn / Hell

/SEV-en HELZ/interjection

The most iconic world-specific oath in Westeros. Invokes the Seven Hells of the Faith of the Seven, the dominant religion. Used to express shock, frustration, or anger.

TVOath
The Lord of the Rings·

Fool of a Took!

≈ “You idiot! / Goddamn fool!

/FOOL of a TOOK/noun phrase (insult)

Gandalf's signature rebuke. 'Fool' is practically a Tolkien curse word — the strongest language the wizard regularly uses. Directed at Peregrin Took after he drops a stone down a well in Moria.

FilmInsult
Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel Comics)·

D'ast

≈ “Damn

/DAST/interjection

A Kree-origin expletive equivalent to 'damn.' Star-Lord uses it frequently in the comics, though the MCU films use standard English profanity instead.

FilmExpletive
Futurama·

Bite my shiny metal ass

≈ “Kiss my ass / Go to hell

/BYTE my SHY-nee MET-ul ASS/interjection (insult)

Bender's signature catchphrase. Not an invented word but a robot-specific adaptation of 'kiss my ass' that became one of the most iconic lines in animated TV history.

TVInsult
Avatar·

Skxawng

≈ “Moron / Idiot

/SKUH-zong/noun (insult)

A Na'vi insult meaning 'moron' or 'idiot.' Neytiri calls Jake Sully 'skxawng' when frustrated with his ignorance of Na'vi ways.

FilmInsult
The Maze Runner·

Klunk

≈ “Shit / Crap

/KLUNK/noun/interjection

Glader slang for excrement, both literal and figurative. The onomatopoeic quality suggests something heavy and unpleasant hitting the ground.

FilmExpletive
Red Rising·

Bloodydamn

≈ “Goddamn / Fucking

/BLUD-ee-dam/adjective/interjection

The signature expletive of the Red (lowest caste) population on Mars. A compound of 'bloody' and 'damn' fused into a single intensifier. Marks the speaker as low-born.

BookOath
Red Rising·

Gorydamn

≈ “Goddamn / Fucking (upper class)

/GOR-ee-dam/adjective/interjection

The Gold (ruling class) equivalent of 'bloodydamn.' Same function, different word — and the difference marks your entire social identity. Darrow must learn to say this instead of 'bloodydamn' to pass as Gold.

BookOath
Red Rising·

Slag / Squab

≈ “Damn / Goddamn (class variants)

/SLAG / SKWOB/adjective/noun

Another class-divided pair: 'slag' is the Gold adjective roughly meaning 'goddamn' while 'squab' is the Red equivalent. Using the wrong one betrays your origins.

BookInsult
Red Rising·

Pixie

≈ “Spoiled rich kid / Privileged wimp

/PIK-see/noun (insult)

An insult for Golds who lack a Peerless Scar — meaning they never proved themselves in combat. They drown in luxury and pleasure instead. Among the warrior elite, it's devastating.

BookInsult
Divergent·

Stiff

≈ “Prude / Boring person (faction slur)

/STIF/noun (slur)

A derogatory term used mainly by Dauntless for members of Abnegation, the selfless faction. Implies they're rigid, repressed, and boring.

FilmInsult
Legend·

Goddy

≈ “Damn / Bloody (exclamation)

/GOD-ee/adjective/interjection

A future-Los Angeles exclamation used in Marie Lu's Legend series. A compressed form of 'goddamn' that has evolved naturally in the Republic's street dialect.

BookOath
Legend·

Tross

≈ “Crap / Crap situation

/TROS/noun/adjective

Republic street slang for something bad, worthless, or disgusting. Used as both noun ('that's tross') and adjective ('tross luck').

BookExpletive
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)·

Cauldron boil me

≈ “God damn / Fuck me

/KAWL-drun BOYL mee/interjection

An oath invoking the Cauldron — the primordial magical artifact that created the fae. 'Cauldron boil me' and 'Cauldron save me' are the most common forms. Since the Cauldron is a real, powerful object in this world, invoking it carries genuine weight.

BookOath
Supernatural·

Assbutt

≈ “Asshole (failed attempt at human cursing by an angel)

/ASS-but/noun (insult)

Castiel's hilariously botched attempt at human profanity while confronting the archangel Michael. An angel who has existed for millennia but has no grasp of human vulgarity, 'assbutt' became one of TV's most beloved invented insults.

TVInsult
Supernatural·

Balls!

≈ “Shit! / Damn! / Son of a bitch!

/BAWLZ/interjection

Bobby Singer's go-to exclamation of frustration, surprise, or anger. A one-word eruption that became his second most iconic verbal tic after 'idjits.'

TVExpletive
Supernatural·

Son of a bitch!

≈ “Son of a bitch (character-defining catchphrase)

/SUN of a BICH/interjection

Not an invented word, but Dean Winchester made 'son of a bitch' so thoroughly his own that it functions as a character-defining fictional catchphrase. Said in every conceivable emotion — anger, surprise, admiration, grief, humor.

TVInsult
Naruto·

Usuratonkachi

≈ “Moron / Loser / Dead last

/oo-SOO-rah-ton-KAH-chee/noun (insult)

Sasuke's signature insult for Naruto. Literally means 'thin-hammered' (a blunt, useless tool). Sasuke using it signals their rivalry; when he STOPS using it, it signals their estrangement; when he resumes, it signals reconciliation.

AnimationInsult
Naruto·

Shannarō! / Cha!

≈ “Hell yeah! / Take that!

/shah-nah-ROH / CHAH/interjection

Sakura's inner monologue battle cry, representing her suppressed aggressive side. 'Shannarō' has no direct translation — it's a made-up exclamation of fierce determination. The English dub used 'Cha!' which became equally iconic.

AnimationExpletive
Dragon Ball / Various anime·

Kuso!

≈ “Shit! / Damn! / Crap!

/KOO-soh/interjection

The single most common Japanese expletive in anime. Literally means 'shit/excrement' but is used as casually as English 'damn' or 'crap.' Its severity depends entirely on how it's translated — 'kuso' can become anything from 'darn' to 'shit' depending on the dub.

AnimationExpletive
Dragon Ball / Various anime·

Chikushou!

≈ “Damn it! / Son of a beast!

/chee-koo-SHOW/interjection

A Japanese exclamation of intense frustration. Literally 'beast!' — calling the situation (or person) beastly/inhuman. Goku screams it frequently in Dragon Ball. Often translated as 'damn it!' or 'son of a bitch!' in English dubs.

AnimationExpletive
Warbreaker (Cosmere)·

Lord of Colors!

≈ “Oh God! / Good Lord! (strong oath)

/LORD uv KUL-erz/interjection

A stronger form of the 'Colors!' oath, elevating it by invoking a divine personification — the Lord of Colors. In Chapter 38, Lightsong actually lampoons this convention, asking why the Returned gods swear by colors rather than by their own names. His conclusion: they should just swear by 'You!'

BookOath