Throughout history, war has shaped language in profound ways, with one of the most noticeable changes being the increased use of swear words and offensive language by soldiers and civilians alike. The stress and chaos of battle, animosity towards the enemy, and the need for psychological coping mechanisms have all contributed to this linguistic shift. Examining historical and contemporary wartime conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, reveals how swear words evolve, proliferate, and become normalized in times of extreme violence. Despite their utility in combat, caution should be exercised to prevent such language from becoming entrenched in civilian life, where it could erode societal standards of decency and decorum.
The Psychological and Social Drivers of Swearing in Wartime
Swearing in wartime serves multiple psychological and social functions. The extreme stress and fear experienced on the battlefield often lead to instinctive, emotionally charged outbursts. Soldiers under fire may use expletives as a form of catharsis, helping to release tension and regain composure. Additionally, swearing can serve as a bonding mechanism among troops, fostering camaraderie and mutual understanding in an environment where conventional expressions of emotion might be viewed as weakness.
A deep-seated animosity towards the enemy also contributes to the increased use of derogatory language. The dehumaniaation of opponents through slurs and profanity makes it psychologically easier for soldiers to engage in combat, reducing the moral burden of killing. This phenomenon has been observed throughout history, from the racial slurs used in both World Wars to the derogatory terms directed at insurgents during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
The Historical Development of Swearing in War
War has long been a catalyst for linguistic evolution, including the development of new expletives. During World War I, British and American soldiers popularized expressions such as "bloody hell" and "FUBAR" ("F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition"), which became entrenched in military slang. World War II further expanded the lexicon of wartime profanity, with phrases like "SNAFU" ("Situation Normal, All F***ed Up") becoming commonplace.
The Vietnam War saw an even greater proliferation of explicit language, as soldiers used profanity not only against the enemy but also to express frustration with their own leadership. More recently, in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, American troops frequently used expletives in radio communications and military correspondence, underscoring how swearing had become an ingrained part of military culture.
Swearing in the Ukraine War: A Modern Perspective
The ongoing war in Ukraine has provided further evidence of how profanity evolves in times of conflict. Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have frequently adopted English swear words in their defiance of Russian invaders. Phrases like "Go f*** yourself"—notably used by Ukrainian border guards in response to a Russian warship—have become symbols of resistance and defiance, echoing across social media and war reportage.
Moreover, Russian forces have also been recorded using derogatory and offensive language towards Ukrainians, reinforcing the role of swearing as both a psychological weapon and a means of solidifying in-group identity. The cross-pollination of swear words from different languages has further enriched the linguistic landscape of war, creating a new lexicon of battlefield profanity that blends local and foreign expressions.
Religious Exclamations in Warfare
Despite declining religiosity in many modern societies, the battlefield remains a place where appeals to the divine are frequently made. Soldiers, regardless of their personal beliefs, often call upon God in moments of extreme peril, pain, or aggression. Expressions like "Oh my God!" and "God help us!" are common on the battlefield, demonstrating that spiritual or religious language persists even in secular individuals.
This phenomenon can be attributed to the primal human instinct to seek external support in life-threatening situations. When faced with death, individuals may revert to deeply ingrained cultural or linguistic habits, using divine references as a final plea for safety or meaning amid chaos. Additionally, religious rhetoric is often embedded in military training, reinforcing the notion that invoking a higher power is both natural and necessary in war.
The Danger of Normalising Wartime Profanity in Civilian Life
While the use of offensive language in war is understandable, allowing it to seep into civilian life can have unintended social consequences. If swearing and dehumanising language become normalised outside the battlefield, it risks eroding societal standards of decency and civil discourse. Wartime swearing, born out of extreme stress and hostility, does not belong in everyday interactions where empathy, respect, and decorum are crucial for social cohesion.
In peacetime, linguistic norms should promote understanding rather than division. The assimilation of battlefield profanity into civilian dialogue could desensitise societies to the horrors of war, trivializing its suffering and contributing to an environment where aggressive or disrespectful speech becomes the norm. As history has shown, words have power—not just in war, but in shaping the values of the societies that emerge from it.
Some tentative conclusions
The increased use of swear words in wartime serves multiple functions, from stress relief and unit cohesion to psychological warfare against the enemy. Throughout history, military conflicts have given rise to new forms of profanity that often persist long after the fighting has ceased. The ongoing war in Ukraine illustrates how foreign swear words can be adopted and weaponised in moments of crisis. However, while such language may be an unavoidable part of the battlefield experience, it should not be allowed to permeate civilian life unchecked. Maintaining a distinction between the language of war and the language of peace is essential in preserving societal values and ensuring that the horrors of war do not become normalised in everyday discourse.
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For a detailed discussion of the use of profanity in the First World War, particularly by Canadian troops, please see the following article. For a discussion of the use of swearing by Ukrainian soldiers in the context of the second Russian invasion in Ukraine, please see the following article. For a video discussing the use of obscene language by US soldiers in World War II, please see here. See also M. J. Trow, Swearing Like a Trooper: Rude Slang of World War II (Hachette, 2013); Tara M. Bell, "So God-Damned Far Away: Soldiers' Experiences in the Vietnam War (2012) https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/1542 and Tim Cook, Fighting Words: Canadian Soldiers' Slang and Swearing in the Great War, War in History 20:3 (2013).