How did swear words become swear words?

just like wanker effected people in 1800s. And asking some one if there gay back in the 80s you would get the crap beaten out of you.

As with most things etymological, it's somewhat of a mystery how a term changes from describing a body part or physical act into a disparaged four-letter word. In fact, some modern swear words weren't considered so rude centuries ago. This is due to society's ever-changing ideas about what's taboo. Read on for the answer, but if you're offended by naughty words, steer clear of the links.

As British lexicographer Jonathon Green notes, in medieval England, all the popular swear words were a form of blasphemy. Around 1700, sex and defecation were the genesis for profanity. These days, the most offensive words are racist, sexist, and homophobic terms. While curses involving body parts and functions are common today, their shock value has lessened.

The notorious "f-word" dates back to the 1500s, and it's been impolite ever since. But the familiar "s-word" simply began as a term for diarrhea. More vulgar usages developed over time, with some of the most colorful invented in the 20th century.

How did the evolution (or devolution, some might argue) of such words happen? Very slowly. Invasions and immigration mixed English and other languages, and this helped word meanings change. Much like the definition of obscenity, swearing has changed over time, and a word's usage can vary from place to place.

A really deep question. In my culture the swear words are always genitalia and copulation related, and some animals, and we always believe they have something do to with the way we look at sex, and the psychology behind it is we think sex is sacrilegious; but truth be told, how did they ended up to have those meanings are hard for contemporary users to figure out. In English is much the same way. Maybe you should search the origin of the words and see how they changes through the history. Are you planning on writing a thesis on this? Maybe worth a PhD.

They were born that way, for the most part. F.u.c.k has always been an offensive word, though its exact origin is unclear. It's related to words in Dutch, German, and Swedish, and the etymological meaning has to do with moving back and forth. The first known evidence of the term is found in an English and Latin poem from before 1500 that satirized the Carmelite friars of Cambridge, England. In the line "Non sunt in coeli, quia gxddbov xxkxzt pg ifmk," the author replaced each letter of the unprintable words with the succeeding letter in the alphabet: "They [the friars] are not in heaven, since they f.u.c.k wives of Ely."* (Remember that the alphabet at the time was different, and that i was also j, v was also u, and vv was w. Thus gxddbov produces fvccant, a fake Latin word taken to mean "f.u.c.k.")

Colloquialism sure is an interesting thing to think about.

A word can be perfectly fine in some cultures,

and yet, be considered vulgar in others.

The same can be said of body language.

President Obama once had his picture taken

with his feet propped up on his desk.

He only intended to relax.

People of another culture were deeply offended

because it is considered a vulgar insult

to show someone the bottom of your shoe.

This is old but can't help myself.

My 11th grade English teacher back in the day, told the class about the F word and the S word. Never could remember what she said about the F word but the S word she said came about from transport ships centuries ago. In the old wooden ships they always transported cow manure but it for so hot down in there that it started melting and stinking really horribly. So they started putting the acronym S.H.I.T on the side of the barrels meaning, ship high in transit. The men started calling it shi t and it stuck. All poop became shi t from that point on. Whether it's 100% true or not, always makes for a good, "did you know..." type of story, lol.

Mikhowl is the closest one out of all of them in my opinion.

I wanna try to give my own perspective view on this subject but I cant because I cant really put my words into sentences and explain.

EDIT: Maybe this? "Anyone who curses or blasphemes must be stoned to death (Leviticus 24:14-16)"

and if you question that Everything, then read this.

"A stubborn and rebellious son must be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)"

I'm just saying.

I have read that for English swear words, the reason is the French. When France invaded England, William the Conqueror outlawed English. That is most words used except for low life English who were servants and cooks. So many Old English words are considered foul words. For instance, snot means mucous. Mucous is the polite "French" way to say snot. Hence, the expression when one curses is : "Pardon my French."

I think swear words become swears when they are used too often in a derogatory manner. like "oh, sh**!" is a vehement expression of anger, and same with f***!.

like an example: the B word and A word are animals, and they weren't always swears. but too often people would use them when referring to other people, like "you act just like a (female dog), woman!" or "you are as stupid as an (donkey)" so over time this derogatory meaning became associated with ill fate and became labeled swears.

then there's stupid and idiot. when you think about it, they are kind of swears. whenever you say them, you are reproached for bad manners, right? anyways they are words pretty much only children use so they are too immature to technically be called swears I guess.

and then sometimes swear words aren't really swear words. like I know a guy who says f***in like every other sentence, doesn't matter if he's happy, mad, or just excited (he'll use it more). like it's just the way he talks. does it count as a swear in his case? I don't think so. he's not using it in a hateful manner.

um... does that sound like a good reason for where swears came from? =D rawr!

REAL ANSWER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7dQh8u4Hc

no swearing in the video

i think a word that becomes a swear word is something that offends, belittles or was being malicious towards someone else. now this has changed bc we also just use it for fun too, but i think its offensiveness/disrespect towards others is what makes it a swear word in the first place.