What is the main message of Nine Nasty Words?

The main message of Nine Nasty Words is the fascinating history and social impact of profanity in the English language.

How long does it take to read Nine Nasty Words?

The reading time for Nine Nasty Words varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Who is the author of Nine Nasty Words?

The author of Nine Nasty Words is John McWhorter.

Society & Culture

Nine Nasty Words Book Summary - Nine Nasty Words Book explained in key points

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Nine Nasty Words summary

Name: Nine Nasty Words
Rating: 4 (137 reviews)
Author: John McWhorter

John McWhorter

English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

4 (137 ratings)

23 mins

Brief summary

Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter is a fascinating and thought-provoking examination of the power and history of taboo language. McWhorter explores the complex social dynamics behind these words and asks provocative questions about how we use them.

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Change & Evolution General Knowledge Culture Anthropology

Table of Contents

Nine Nasty Words
Summary of 7 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 7

What’s in it for me? An excellent history of bad words.

Swear words, sailor talk, curses, and expletives. Everyone knows there are certain words and phrases that pack a particularly powerful punch. But how did these words gain their potency, and why do they still shock so many?

These blinks delve into the curious world of profanity by examining the origins of a few of our most forbidden words. Drawing on the linguistic expertise of John McWhorter, this tour of taboo vocab examines words like fuck, shit, bitch, and hell through a historical, sociological, and political lens. In the end, you’ll gain a new appreciation for our risqué and ribald language.

A quick warning: These blinks contain highly offensive language. Please take care.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

how hell lost its heat;
that a slur in the US is a meal in the UK; and
which career earns you the name Mr. Fuckbutter.

Damn and hell began as sinful and became secular.

There’s a long-standing Hollywood legend about the film Gone with the Wind. The story goes that the film’s producer, David Selznick, received a heavy fine when the movie was released.

You see, at the film’s climax, the leading star, Clark Gable, utters the now-classic line “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” The rumor is that back in 1939 damn was such a shocking word that allowing it on screen was tantamount to a crime. So Selznick had to pay up.

But this just isn’t true. In reality, while damn and its compatriot word hell were both considered bawdy, neither was actually banned. In fact, they were treated as acceptable forms of profanity – a distinction they still hold today.

The key message here is: Damn and hell began as sinful and became secular.

In today’s pantheon of taboo words, damn and hell hold a curious place. While these two expletives are absolutely considered among the four-letter terms we label profane, they nonetheless feel a bit tame. This isn’t a recent development, either. Even by the 1900s, both expletives were used regularly and rarely met with more than mild and perfunctory disapproval.

Yet this wasn’t always the case. Travel back a few hundred years and these words would feel more provocative. In Europe during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Christian doctrine reigned supreme. Pious followers of the faith were careful to abide by the Second Commandment, which forbids taking the Lord’s name “in vain.” Pledging a trivial oath in the name of God or Jesus was strictly discouraged, which is why there’s a taboo around so-called swear words like Oh God or For God’s sake!

Moreover, this prohibition extended to cursing people or things in the name of God. Asking the Lord to condemn, or damn, a given frustration was a serious breach of decorum. This injunction also extended to the word hell, as this was the expected destination for any soul God would damn. So, while an especially pissed peasant might be tempted to shout, “God damn you to hell!” such a phrase carried a seriously sinful weight.

Of course, over time the religious connotations of these words began to fade, and their usage crept into everyday language. Damn and its cousin goddamn became so common that Joan of Arc even referred to the English people as “Goddams” for their frequent use of the phrase. For its part, hell became just another interjection, such as in the phrases What the hell? and Hell, why not?

The origins of fuck as profanity remain shrouded in mystery.

In the 1930s, the lexicographer Allen Walker Read declared that fuck carried the deepest stigma of any word in the English language. And it’s true. In the early twentieth century, the so-called f-word had a notorious aura of transgression.

But in the Middle Ages, things were different. Official records from the eleventh and twelfth centuries speak of upstanding citizens such as Roger Fuckbythenavel, Simon Fuckbutter, and, of course, the honorable Henry Fuckbeggar, a prized member of Edward I’s inner circle.

Taboos around shit closely parallel our society’s relationship with shame.

On the surface, science and shit are almost diametrically opposed. While the former describes the rigorous process of using empirical data to understand the world, the latter refers to a more base biological function.

Yet these two terms share a common origin. Millennia ago, a language spoken in what is now Ukraine had the word skei, meaning “to cut off” or “slice.” Over time, skei spread around Europe. Latin speakers adopted it as sci, which came to be the root of “to know,” as one gained knowledge by cutting up the world for analysis. Thus, science.

Our anatomical terms are either playful, prurient, or prejudiced.

Flip on the radio and it won’t be long until you hear some libertine MC or lascivious diva extolling the virtues of a certain body part. Some will cheekily declare that “baby’s got back,” while others will simply explicitly direct you to “shake your ass.”

Of course, this freewheeling appreciation of the ass is relatively new. Even a mere century ago, people would go to great lengths to avoid uttering the word ass. More prim speakers might gesture vaguely to backsides or rumps, opt for the sartorial term seat, or, if especially cultured, revert to foreign vocabulary like the French derrière.

The N-word holds a particularly complex place in American culture.

In 2006, comedian Michael Richards was riding high off the success of Seinfeld, in which he played the lovable oaf Kramer. However, all his accumulated goodwill could not withstand one seriously dismal stand-up performance.

What happened was this: While on stage, Richards attempted to dispatch a heckler by delivering a caustic riff. In an unhinged and horrid retort, he repeatedly said the N-word. Yes, that N-word. Afterward, the comedian apologized and tried to mitigate the outburst as a joke gone horribly wrong. The public was unforgiving, and the incident essentially ended his career.

The f-word followed a long and winding path to become the f-slur.

It’s often said that the United States and the United Kingdom are two countries separated by a common language. While both nations predominantly use English, there remain major differences in how that tongue is wielded. Americans ride the elevator, while Brits ascend in lifts, for instance.

Perhaps the strangest example of this divide is the varied meaning of the f-word. No, not the four-letter f-bomb that we discussed in blink 2 – the other f-word. In the UK, this word is on the menu – it refers to a dish of chopped pork wrapped in bacon. And, if you wanted to have a smoke after the meal, you might also use a shortened version of this word to refer to your cigarette.

The word bitch shows the myriad ways profane words can change over time.

The year is 1397. Somewhere in the British Isles, a pregnant dog gives birth to a litter of puppies. Unfortunately, the young pups are all blind. A local scribe records the event in the town’s annals. Dutifully, he notes, “the bytche bringeth forth blynde whelpes.”

Around the same time period, a stage play features two women in a heated argument. One leading lady dismisses the other with a biting remark. She ruefully asks, “Whom calleste thou queine, skabde biche?” Or, as we would say, “Who are you calling queen, miserable bitch?”

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What is Nine Nasty Words about?

Nine Nasty Words (2021) is a foul-mouthed exploration of our linguistic taboos. This title picks apart exactly why some words come to be profane.

Nine Nasty Words Review

Nine Nasty Words (2021) by John McWhorter delves into the history and significance of taboo language, offering insights that make it a worthwhile read. Here's why this book stands out:

It explores the power of language through an exploration of nine taboo words, revealing the cultural and historical significance behind each one.
Through careful analysis and research, McWhorter presents a nuanced perspective on taboo language, challenging societal norms and shedding light on its complex nature.
The book's rich storytelling and thought-provoking examples keep readers engaged, ensuring that this exploration of language is far from mundane.

Who should read Nine Nasty Words?

Language-lovers aiming to deepen their appreciation of words
Salty talkers looking to pick up new profanity
Anyone curious about the origin of taboos

About the Author

John McWhorter, a linguistics professor at Columbia University, holds a PhD from Stanford University. His extensive writing on language and culture includes the best-selling titles Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English, and The Language Hoax.

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