Why do British people find the word “Fanny” to be offensive?

[Charliefretz329]

[SotiCoto]

Not applicable.
See, when Americans avoid words, it is because they think of them as cursed and don't want to say them out of primitive superstition.
When Brits avoid words, it is because they're childish words and lack impact.
For instance "fanny" is the PG13 version of "cunt".
We're not going to call you a fanny because it sounds like a playground insult. We'll call you a cunt instead, and watch as you gasp in horror and do little cross gestures over your chest.

[Charliefretz329]

Lmao

[Brokenheartedx]

In Scotland we call folk fannies.. It's usually haw here ya wee fanny lol

[bolverk]

I don't know who’s told you that we find the word "Fanny" to be offensive, but that not the case, it can be used as diminutives of the French name Frances meaning "free one", and of the Spanish name "Estefanía",
Also as a noun 1. a woman's genitals 2. a person's buttocks or as a verb, to mess around and waste time Example: they were fannying about in the street

[Charliefretz329]

A “Proper English Lady” admonished me

[bolverk]

Yes , well there are “Proper English Ladies” and then there are “Proper English Ladies”, the former are the nouveau who think they are Ladies because of their money etc, and then there are the latter who are properly bred English Ladies who has more than a smattering of female relatives who have 'Fanny' as diminutive of their given name, and would also use its slang form with reckless abandon.

[Charliefretz329]

lol touché to them

[ClaircognizantEmpath]

hey, i wouldn't say offensive just over here it has been used as a term for a womens genitalia, a softer name over c... p... y etc

[Brokenheartedx]

No words are offensive in Scotland we swear as a term of endearment.. Like 'awright bawsack/cunt/buncha bitches, wee fannies lol

[NamerOfStars]

The real question is why "Brit" is considered perfectly acceptable, but "Jap" such an insult, since they're derived exactly the same way.

Funnily enough, there's a brand of chips in the Midwest called "Jay's", but the family name (and consequently the brand) was originally "Japp's". Then World War 2 broke out, and that was the LAST thing you wanted to be called; kinda like being named "Alfred Qeda" after the 9/11 attacks.

[dustybiker2]

It was used as an insult. So, yes. A good example of application.

[NamerOfStars]

@dustybiker2 Which would apply if "Yankee Doodle" still carried the same impact. It doesn't.

[dustybiker2]

Time erases things doesn't it?

[strateguy632]

i heard it means butt but we say butt on tv. i don't agree with other replies here.

oh and when i travel i wear my fanny pack.

[Charliefretz329]

It’s a “bum-bag” in England

[Levin]

I thought it was yanks that got offended at every swear word.

[Charliefretz329]

Everyone has a different standard

[AviatorTom]

May have something to do with the ribald novel Fanny Hill?

[Charliefretz329]

Never read that one

[RebelinSteel]

It’s not offensive as such, however it is slang for vagina. Which when dealing with certain countries a tad humorous. Yes it is also a girls name. There was also a Fanny given to cooking pots, that was derived from Fanny Adam’s murder.

[Charliefretz329]

It’s slang for butt in the USA. As in your ass

[Charliefretz329]

And yes I’ve heard it as a girls name too.

A “Proper British Lady” gave me a dressing down over using the term “Fanny-pack” 🤔

[Charliefretz329]

Said it was synonymous with the word; “cunt”…

[RebelinSteel]

Yes, hence the humorous bit lol, saying am gonna slap your Fanny for that often results in a dead silence around the table and an American wondering why everyone is looking at them 🤣🤣🤣

[Charliefretz329]

Lmao 🤣

[RebelinSteel]

We tend to avoid the general use of the C word, as that is very offensive.

[Charliefretz329]

I’ve heard British lads tossing around the C-word quite liberally

[RebelinSteel]

Oh yes it’s used but it is offensive,
You can likely call someone a Fanny with zero response, however call them a cunt, total different reaction.

[paledreams]

I cringe at the word myself as an Australian - it's not even a word that deserves to be a vocabulary words

[dolemite58]

Do they? I just thought it was a funny old way of saying butt 😂

[Charliefretz329]

That’s what it means in the US

[dustybiker2]

😱They took it away already? The fastest influencer on gag.

[dustybiker2]

Shoot... that was a reply not an opinion. 🤣

[dustybiker2]

But my opinion was a reply so I guess it fits in some weird gag way

[Charliefretz329]

I think they hired the AI’s to run GAG

[dustybiker2]

That does make sense.

[Iron_Man]

It’s not it’s funny. I was just talking about that the other day.

[LaurenM1997]

Fanny is Scottish for Virgina

[Charliefretz329]

Wow! Didn’t know

[LaurenM1997]

Yeah haha 😬

[handsomelad70]

Maybe the don't like early rocker Larry Williams' 1957 hit, "Short, Fat Fannie !!!"

[LaurenM1997]

@handsomelad70 I’ll have to go listen to that

[LaurenM1997]

That’s funny 🤣

[handsomelad70]

On Jan.7,1980, Larry Williams,44, who also wrote about 10 of the Beatles' early hits, was likely murdered by the Mafia for trying to horn in on their prostitution racket, so THAT wasn't funny.

[NathanDavis]

I do like Fanny Lu... a lot

[sirderpsalot123]

@dustybiker2 🤔

[Charliefretz329]

Yeah I was waiting for her to chip in lol

[sirderpsalot123]

@dustybiker2 how dare you keep GAGs newest influencer waiting?

[dustybiker2]

Fanny is backside. Depends how far your graces extend.

[dustybiker2]

Derp, I was busy.

[dustybiker2]

And already chattering with you both in chat anyway😏

[sirderpsalot123]

Why doesn't the influencer title show up here?

[Charliefretz329]

It shows when you click on the likes button to see who likes stuff…

[sirderpsalot123]

@charliefretz329 still isn't showing for me 😬

[Charliefretz329]

I still see it

[AngryCarl]

It's slang for the female genitalia. Unlike America where it's slang for your arse.

[RedInnocent69]

You would’ve been admonished for ass too. Maybe not arse though. 😂

[4ngelic]

it means pussy in British

[JonCobretti]

They gotta calm down with a Bo'Oh'O'Wa'er

[Emmytexrex]

Lol it's funny though 😅 but yh

[Miah04]

Ain't it British for bootay

[Charliefretz329]

British for the c word

[Miah04]

No it's not. It literally says British slang for buttocks😂

[Charliefretz329]

Yeah… what they call: The Front Butt

[Miah04]

😂😂

[noohair]

It is their culture and their slang.

[Dongie]

I don't know. Why do they call a cigarette a fag?

[Charliefretz329]

Cause it means “stick”

[Charliefretz329]

And plural is a bundle of sticks…

Or potatoes…

[Dongie]

Fag means stick?
How about rodgering?

[Charliefretz329]

That means acknowledging

[Chazmatazz269]

A common English slang use of “roger” means to be in a difficult predicament. It’s thought to have derived from the pirate flag “Jolly Roger”. Obviously running into pirates would be a not great experience. In some uses, it may appear to be referencing sexual activity, but i think that’s not unlike the American use of “f*ucked”.