Dysphemism

A dysphemism is a deliberately derogatory or insulting word or expression that is used in place of a more neutral one. It can be used humorously.

Features

Dysphemism is the opposite of euphemism. This linguistic phenomenon is also known as cacophemism, counter-euphemism and anti-euphemism and includes words or expressions of a derogatory nature that denote a much harsher and unpleasant reality. than the one that already manifests the linguistic taboo.

An example of a dysphemism is "espicharla" or "kick the bucket" for dying. The equivalent euphemism would be "pass away". Precisely because euphemisms often deal with sex and death, dysphemisms do as well. Even the same expression can be euphemistic and dysphemistic at the same time, depending on the context.

Examples

• Waste food, junk: fast food.
• Silly box, or boba box: the TV.
• Shoe sole: leather iron.
• Like cancer?: by offering a cigarette.
• He's sowing yucca, or raising malvas: he's buried or dead.
• Matasanos: doctor
• Samples: Dentist
• Cambiapiezas: Mechanical
• Mataburros: dictionary.
• Dead trees: paper printed publication, in contrast to digital media or electronic books.