Which words are ‘acceptable’ for children to use together (like stupid/idiot)? Which words are ‘adult’ (like bitch/whore) and unsuitable for young children? Some languages may have a ‘lighter’ version, like saying ‘shoot’ or ‘sugar’ to replace a swearword, which a child can get away with without upsetting too many people.
Which words should you ban? If in doubt in a second language do ask your child’s teacher, or a close friend with children who can advise you on your child’s language.
Should we teach our kids swearwords in two languages?
If you are living away from your first language your children only get limited language modeling from their parents. Even if your kids hear you swear (it’s easy to lose your cool in a traffic jam or with a grumpy salesperson!), remember a younger generation often has different words and won’t necessarily copy their parents. Their model is children of their age, so children living away from one culture can miss out of current swearwords.
Patricia, British mother of three bilingual French/English kids living in France, says she lets her friends with kids from England help out, asking them to slip in a few naughty words or slang when they come to visit so her kids will know what real English kids say at school. Books and films or television series for kids sometimes have a character who swears, this is useful because the words are in context and can be explained.
There can also be times when an innocent word in one language becomes dangerous in another. Like the French word for seal, phoque, which caused some embarrassment when we were playing Pictionary in England and my kids were thinking in French first, and started shouting out the word loudly.
The sweet tales of dancing mouse Angelina Ballerina unfortunately have a Miss. Zizi, the French word for a boy’s willie. I’m guilty too, I thought the French word for swimming pool, piscine, was hilarious as a teenager, me and my friends liked to say ‘We’re going to the piss-cine!’These language blips amuse kids and are generally harmless, but it’s worth explaining to confused relatives or friends why your child is laughing.
Swearwords and naughty words are part and parcel of learning a whole language for a child. Although it can seem daunting to have to deal with a hidden unwritten linguistic code it is part of your child’s world and should not be underestimated.
Curious about French/English swear words?
Click here to find a list for young kids. And click here to find a list for older kids. Have fun!
Do your multilingual children use swear words in their different languages? How do you feel about your children using swear words in different cultures (where one culture may be more lax about it and other more strict)?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting article, hoping my daughter will get all her slang and naughty words from her 3 older cousins in the states!!
Funny! You know, growing up I always thought swearing in Spanish was much dirtier than swearing in English. To my ears, they just sounded much worse. (I think they still do!)
So I do wonder, if swearing in the minority language seems “more shocking” than it does in the community language. Do you think it is just desensitization? We hear it so much, we don’t even flinch when we hear it?
Monica´s last [type] ..Homeschooling Your Kindergartener- Part Three
I think swearing in majority language German sounds more shocking …
… so I swear in English all the time. Somehow it doesn’t seem quite that bad when in English. I really should watch my mouth, though…lest my kids pick up on this …(so far they have been really good, though).
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