Meaning & use
twat
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableBritish
A vulgar slang insult for a person regarded as stupid, unpleasant, or contemptible.
Grammar: Very offensive; as an insult it targets a person, so examples are best kept descriptive.
Patterns
- call someone a twat
- shout an insult
- use vulgar slang
The usage note labels twat as vulgar and offensive.
In the transcript, a fan is heard shouting the word twat after the penalty.
The novel uses the insult to show a character's rudeness, not as polite dialogue.
Word forms
| plural | twats |
|---|
Common combinations
- vulgar insult
- Teachers should treat twat as a vulgar insult, not casual vocabulary.
- shout an insult
- The report describes a supporter shouting an insult after the match.
- use vulgar slang
- The character uses vulgar slang when angry, including this word.
Synonyms and how they differ
- idiot
- Idiot is much milder and lacks the vulgar, offensive force of twat.
- jerk
- Jerk is informal and milder; it criticizes behavior without the same taboo.
- moron
- Moron is disapproving and insulting about intelligence, but still less vulgar.
- bastard
- Bastard is offensive and personal, but its tone and history differ.
Commonly confused: twat or twerp?
twat vs twerp
Twerp is a milder, old-fashioned insult; twat is far more vulgar and offensive.
Practice
Which description best fits the word twat?
Choose one answer.
It is classified as vulgar slang and used as an offensive insult; the other categories are clearly wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “twat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.