ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cunt

n. · adj.
US //ˈkənt// UK //kˈʌnt// cunt
  1. 1 offensive person (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Vulgar

    a very rude and offensive word for a person you strongly dislike.

    a highly offensive and taboo epithet used to describe a person perceived as extremely unpleasant or contemptible.

    Example

    He was being a total cunt to the waiter for no reason at all.

    Example

    The witness described the defendant as a manipulative cunt who had systematically alienated every member of his own family.

    Teacher's tip

    This is considered one of the most offensive words in the English language; learners should avoid using it as it can lead to extreme social or professional consequences.

  2. 2 difficult thing (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Vulgar British English

    a very rude way to describe a difficult task or an annoying object.

    a vulgar metonym for a difficult, frustrating, or intractable situation or object.

    Example

    This car is a real cunt to start when it is cold outside.

    Example

    The mechanic muttered that the rusted bolt was a right cunt to remove without breaking the surrounding housing.

  3. 3 excellent (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgar

    a slang word used to describe something as very good or impressive.

    a vulgar slang intensifier used to denote excellence or high quality, particularly within certain subcultures.

    Example

    That new outfit you are wearing is absolutely cunt.

    Example

    The performance was described by fans as 'serving cunt', a specific slang expression used to praise someone's fierce or impressive appearance.

Origin

From Middle English cunte, queynt, queynte, from Old English cunte, from Proto-West Germanic kuntā, from Proto-Germanic *kuntǭ. Cognate with West Frisian kunte, Middle Dutch conte (Dutch kont (“butt”)), dialectal Swedish kunta, dialectal Danish kunte, and Icelandic kunta. A relationship to Latin cunnus has not been conclusively shown. Lexicographer Partridge suggests cuneus (“a wedge”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms1 entry
Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026