Is bitch a bad word?

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If it is, y isn't it bleeped out on TV? And y in certain situations, some women find it complimentary? (As in, "I'm one tough bitch and I can get through this, etc.") Now I'm really questioning the badness of the b word.

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Type: Question • Score: 9 • Views: 4,770 • Replies: 33

[+4] - Setanta - 04/17/2013For anyone who is a learner of English, i would point out that in most contexts, the word is at best a disobliging term, and the non-native speaker should probably avoid it's use.
[+3] - engineer - 04/17/2013If you are talking about dogs, bitch is fine. If you are describing someone else whether you are a man or woman, it is derogatory. If you are refering to yourself as in your example it is fine.
[+3] - Ragman - 04/17/2013Here's the deal (that you're typically asking about) for appropriateness to a social situation: in a work environment, NEVER use the word BITCH - jokingly or not. That is grounds for termination....

@Angel23,

If you are talking about dogs, bitch is fine. If you are describing someone else whether you are a man or woman, it is derogatory. If you are refering to yourself as in your example it is fine.

1 Reply

@Angel23,

Language and the acceptance of bad language is always evolving. Apparently the general public as well as the FCC don't see the word, bitch as malicious, mean spirited, or as derogatory as it used to be considered.

As for why some women coopt the once deemed term? The self labeling term is similar to the use of the "N" word in certain African-American circles. The taking back of said once derogatory terms is supposedly empowering or something like that.

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For anyone who is a learner of English, i would point out that in most contexts, the word is at best a disobliging term, and the non-native speaker should probably avoid it's use.

1 Reply

@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

For anyone who is a learner of English, i would point out that in most contexts, the word is at best a disobliging term, and the non-native speaker should probably avoid it's use.

Is that apostrophe a typo, or worse? In Britain, "bitch" is the correct term for a female dog, and among doggy folk, (my aunt breeds Yorkshire terriers) people who don't use it are liable to be laughed at. When applied to women, it seems to be the female equivalent of "bastard", i.e. (often needlessly) spiteful, cruel, deeply unlikeable, and liable to be perceived by someone thus described as very offensive. It isn't a "rude" word like "****" or "****" though.

1 Reply

@contrex,

**** off, you snide son of a bitch.

1 Reply

@Setanta,

That was a bit snide on C's part, Setanta. Everybody does this. But you must remember that it was you who defended all the peevists' rights to bitch and moan about this same silly peeve and others which were as bad or worse.

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It just seemed unintentionally humorous for someone to start a remark with "For anyone who is a learner of English, i would point out..." and finish up with an apostrophe howler. I am quite glad to have rattled the bars of Setanta's cage, the pompous coxcomb.

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@Angel23,

Here's the deal (that you're typically asking about) for appropriateness to a social situation: in a work environment, NEVER use the word BITCH - jokingly or not. That is grounds for termination. Exception being, when you're referring to a female dog.

1 Reply

@contrex,

Don't be a liar, you just hate Americans, you pompous Saxon turd.

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@Ragman,

What about using it as a verb?

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@engineer,

Quote:

If you are talking about dogs, bitch is fine. If you are describing someone else, usually a woman, it is derogatory. If you are referring to yourself, as in your example, it is fine.

I agree with you totally. Also - here in the UK - I've noted an increasing use of the word bitch as in 'he bitched about the weather'.

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And it is often used by gay men as a teasing term of affection to another gay man. Very often no malice meant at all in that context.

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@Frank Apisa,

You're so right, Vonny & Frank. '****' has way way more uses that don't approach 'bad'. I suspect it's the same with 'bitch'.

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The concept of a word being "bad" would seem to be reserved for children.

Bitch is a good word when properly used and sometimes proper usage involves offending someone. Some people need to be offended.

A bit of a tangent here but few things annoy me as much as a kid telling me that
words and phrases like "stupid" and "shut up" are bad words. I know it's the parents who are the sources for this idiocy, but I can't help myself; I think less of the kid. Ain't it a bitch?

1 Reply

@vonny,

vonny wrote:

Quote:
If you are talking about dogs, bitch is fine. If you are describing someone else, usually a woman, it is derogatory. If you are referring to yourself, as in your example, it is fine.

I agree with you totally. Also - here in the UK - I've noted an increasing use of the word bitch as in 'he bitched about the weather'.

Another example of the hegemony of American culture. We've been using it as a verb for a very long time.

1 Reply

@Finn dAbuzz,

I think you've over imbibed, Finn. You're more ignorant than normal.

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@Finn dAbuzz,

Its a verb and an adjective . I cannot believe theBrits are only now catching on to verbing "Bitch".

I doubt Theyll ever use
the form "bitchin" to mean exceedingly nice.

2 Replies

@farmerman,

Don't be so sure.

Like any good conqueror though, we've adopted words and phrases from around the empire.

"At the end of the day..." is now ubiquitous and I can remember when it was only heard in the UK.

This was a smart adoption by us.

The one that makes me gag is "No worries."

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@farmerman,

Quote:

Its a verb and an adjective

I can't think of any adjective uses at the moment, but I suppose it's possible.

2 Replies

Is bitch a bad word?

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