this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2026
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cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/questions/p/1209070/what-is-the-origin-of-fuck-you-use-as-a-insult

How does "fuck you" work as insult? What is the origin?

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

The word itself is ancient, and cognates in other European languages are used the same way. To go outside the region and language family, the Chinese version is "fuck your mother".

Sex is a common topic of profanity around the world, and the way things are referenced in a set expression often won't make literal sense. So in other words, it's probably a phrase that's appeared over and over again since we evolved.

[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 8 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

As old as people. I bet when we crack Linear A that will be one the phrases.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Other languages have very different profanity, though.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago

Care to share? For educational purposes.

[–] lordnikon@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago