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People Share Common Insults From Their Country That Don't Make Sense To The Rest Of The World

Man with a confused expression on his face
woman in gray crew neck shirt
Photo by Afif Ramdhasuma on Unsplash

Reddit user THEREAPER8593 asked: 'What insults are common in your country but you think most of the world would not understand/ever use?'

John Curtis
By John CurtisJul 01, 2023
John Curtis
A novelist, picture book writer and native New Yorker, John is a graduate of Syracuse University and the children's media graduate program at Centennial College. When not staring at his computer monitor, you'll most likely find John sipping tea watching British comedies, or in the kitchen, taking a stab at the technical challenge on the most recent episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.
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Rather than resorting to simple name-calling, many people will rack their brains for a clever insult that leaves their adversary speechless.

Of course, there are some fairly common insults that everyone knows and can keep in their back pocket when needed, also guaranteed to leave their conversation partner speechless as well.

Sometimes, however, they are not left speechless because they can't find a clever comeback to the insult just thrown at them, but rather because they have no idea what was just said to them.

Owing to the fact that this particular insult might be commonplace in another country, but makes no sense elsewhere, with it's meaning garbled, if there was any meaning left at all.

Redditor THEREAPER8593 was curious to hear the insults which fail to pack the same punch outside of their country's borders, leading them to ask:
"What insults are common in your country but you think most of the world would not understand/ever use?"

An Insult, Or A Suggestion?

"South Korea has an insult that says 'The Han River is warm'."

"Doesn't mean much literally but it implies that it is a good day to jump off the bridge of the Han River because it is not too cold."- SnooTomatoes7746

Hard To Say Which Is Better... (Or Worse?)

"Most of the world uses "motherf*cker", which we do as well. But in India it's much more common to call someone sisterf*cker."- PhreedomPhighter

...A Lot Of People Do...

"You have a bird“- stan-twice

Is This Even An Insult?

"In Australia the biggest insult is 'Thanks Champ' or 'Cheers muscles'."- b7oke

Definitely A Word No One Wants To Hear...

"'Kanker' (cancer) is used as a swear word/Insult here."

"Example: "je kanker moeder" (your cancer mom/mother)."

"The Netherlands."- Co_caine_

Well, Not Everyone Wants To Be Stuck In There...

"Greeks use the word 'p*ssywipe' when sitting in a tavern over a meal with their kids around."

"Basically calling someone a tampon is common."- International-Cup143

Ladies Manufacturing GIF by SiemensGiphy

Definitely Lost In Translation

"Jy's 'n poes."- take_the_L_

"Schafseckel (Sheep ballsack, you)."

"Krummbohreds Arschloch (off centre drilled a**hole, you)."- HF_Martini6

If Not An Insult, It's A Darn Good Metaphor...

"Sh*t a hedgehog" most would probably understand but not use."- IntelligentGrocery79

Giphy

Fill In The Noun...

"'You're so pretty'."

"Said in a sweet, condescending voice means 'it's good that you're pretty because you just said something so stupid that it proves that you're dumber than a bag of hammers'."- TrailerParkPrepper

Ding Dong?

"Bellend."- YaMomsHouse22

There Are Worse Things To Be...

"In France they say 'your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberry' all the time to the English."- Cussec

Christmas Hamster GIF by MashableGiphy

Not Out Of The Realm Of Possibility...

"your ma's yer da."- throwawaythro2020

Just Stay Out Of The Kitchen...

"F*ck your mum's onion."- Alexshere_Ro

Of course, having a strong insult that isn't so well known outside of your own country might work to your advantage.

For all they know, they could be thinking that you are paying them the most wonderful compliment.

Making everyone happy...

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