http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3615.29165)http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362411Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362411nona the brit0http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362411http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362411.xmlI was just about to say what Kooyeen said. 'n-words' is completely different to 'the n-word'.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362258Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362258Kooyeen1http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362258http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362258.xmlNona The Brit wrote: I can't imagine n-word or f-word meaning anything other than the rude words. You could try using them in other contexts but everyone's first thought will always be the rude one. Yeah, I think the same as Nona. You can "invent" a new meaning for every word if you want, and then use it with a restricted number of people who know what you are talking about. But the F-word is always the F-word for everyone, everywhere and in every situation, and the same is true of the N-word. The first poster mentioned "N-words", plural, not "word", so I think that could also have a different invented meaning (= children use N-words, no, not, never), but when people talk about the N-word, it's always the N-word. Just my...http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362204Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362204khoff2http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362204http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362204.xmlI know people of my parents' generation would sometimes superstitiously refer to "the Big C" instead of cancer -- maybe that was in the back of my mind and I merged it with the idea of "the c-word." But it's also possible that the expressions are subject to more varied use in the U.S.than the U.K. More opinions, please??http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362169Sun, 24 May 2009 18:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362169Anonymous3http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362169http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362169.xml"Can the phrase 'n-word' be used to mean something other than a particular racial epithet?" Yes, that is exactly what I meant. It is about a toddler who doesn't want to speak (he can). He hates everything and keeps saying don't like it . His mother says he has a specialized vocabulary and that he has a genius for N-words.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362153Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362153nona the brit4http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362153http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362153.xmlI'd assume the doctor said an obsene word. I can't imagine n-word, c-word or f-word meaning anything other than the rude words. You could try using them in other contexts but everyone's first thought will always be the rude one.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362140Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362140khoff5http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362140http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362140.xmlAnd some people might use "the c-word" to avoid referring directly to cancer. ("She went to the doctor today -- I think he mightt have used the c-word; she looked really shaken up.")http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362111Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362111Grammar Geek6http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htm#362111http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362111.xmlI'm not sure I understand, but if you mean "Can the phrase 'n-word' be used to mean something other than a particular racial epithet?" the answer is yes, as long as you have defined the conditions sufficiently. If you said "My daughter just said the n-word!" I would assume you meant that racially charged word. But if we had been having a conversation about how your daughter always says "NO!" and you have started calling it "the 'n-word'" to avoid saying it in front of her, and then said "Listen! She just said the n-word again!" I would know what you mean. For some people, the "c-word" is "commitment" (as in a relationship) but for others, it's an entirely diferent, very nasty word. I would have to hear the context to know which one...http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htmSat, 24 Jan 2009 19:29:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:362068Anonymous7http://www.englishforums.com/English/NWord/vzlxc/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-362068.xmlCan N-word signify something other than "***". For example "no" and "not" - little children have genius for N-words (they keep saying no)?