Religious words
Bastard God
Profanity could be offensive, but no one has heard of this phrase.
Bloody
Not really offensive to any group, seen as everyday sort of language
God
Least offensive
Jesus
Only offensive to one or two with religious convictions; for others it is mild, everyday word
Jesus Christ
Only offensive to one or two with religious convictions; for others it is a mild, everyday word
Jesus Fucking Christ
Profanity, very offensive
Jesus Shitting Christ
Profanity, very offensive
Body parts/Body functions
Arse
Mild, not really offensive
Arsehole
Quite strong for some/ variation on this
Balls
Quite mild for some, stronger for African-Caribbean parents
Bollocks
Mild language to most except one 55+ group who thinks quite offensive
Bum
Body part, mild, not really offensive to any group
Cock
Seen as quite offensive for some, especially older groups and British Asian females, with its sexual connotations. For others it is seen as a middle of the road sort of word.
Crap
Mild, not really offensive, toilet word, everyday language
Cunt
Most offensive word to majority, and never really acceptable (though some might occasionally use). Very strong word and particularly disliked by women.
Dick
Most find this 'body parts' type of word only mildly offensive
Fart
Not really offensive to any group, seen as everyday sort of language
Knob
Can be used insultingly to men, but generally seen as quite inoffensive/mild/ 'playground word'
Prick
Playground word
Pussy
Some, esp. Women and older groups find this really offensive
Shit
Mild, toilet word, everyday language, not really offensive (though could be if used about a child/young person )
Tits
Playground word, mild, not offensive
Twat
Very polarising; female sexual anatomy word; offensive esp. to British Asian females and some women from other groups, but many esp. men think it is an everyday word and quite mild
People with disabilities
Mong
Several haven't heard of this word - polarising - many say is inoffensive, but after discussion see that it could be offensive in the way that 'retard' is
Nutter
Although this comes into the category of offensive to people with mental ill health or learning difficulties, it is generally seen as very light (Much more so than retard and schizo) and most think it is not offensive at all.
Retard
Quite polarising: offensive because of it effectively refers to a disability, but many do not see this as an issue. A few do, however; for one it is the new 'spastic'; others find it really objectionable
Schizo
Quite polarising: offensive because it effectively refers to a disability, but many do not see this as an issue.
Spastic
Recognised as very offensive to most people, though a few think it is okay to use the word 'spas' or spaz
Sexual orientation
Batty Boy
Unknown by most/older groups/ seen as mild slang by AfricanCaribbean and British Asian groups
Dyke
A word which can be used to be offensive to people because of their sexual orientation, though some older people think it is not offensive if used accurately/descriptively of a lesbian
Faggot
A word which can be used to be offensive to people because of their sexual orientation, though some older people think it is not offensive if used accurately/descriptively of a homosexual
Poof
Playground slang, mildly offensive word in the category of being insulting because of sexual orientation
Queer
Offensive to people because of their sexual orientation, but most think it is quite mild; several talk about the fact that the gay community has 'taken back' this word and uses it, so feel it cannot be so offensive, but some men would not like to be called this.
Ethnic words
Blaad Claat
Only known by ethnic minorities and polarising; some think it's insulting, but others not really sure
Bumbu
Only known by one group - young African-Caribbean men who described it as 'playground' word
Chi-chi man
This is part of a group of words where you can insult people because of their sexual orientation; and seen as quite offensive by the African-Caribbean parent group, and potentially (if used aggressively) by the younger African-Caribbean males. Hardly anyone else knew what this word meant.
Ho
Only known by younger groups and those from ethnic minorities who are especially likely to think this is very offensive, especially women. For African-Caribbean men it can be used offensively. It is like bitch - not whore????.
Hoochie
Mild, not really offensive or playground word for those who know (younger and ethnic minority groups mainly)
Punani
Many are not sure what this word means; African-Caribbean groups and British Asians do know it and think it is offensive. Somewhat less offensive than cunt. Used in Ali G, became less offensive because he uses it.
Everyday words
Git
Most think it's everyday and not offensive/mild
Piss off
Common, everyday word, not really offensive.
Pissed
Not really offensive - just means drunk
Sod
Normal, everyday word, not really offensive
Insults with sexual connotations
Bastard
Polarising - for some fairly middling, equivalent to bitch, for others very strong and offensive
Bitch
More likely to be found quite strong/offensive by AfricanCaribbean and British Asian parents/ most likely to be seen as playground or common word by younger groups
Cocksucker
For most this is strong and offensive, especially when used as insult to women
Dickhead
Somewhat polarising. Some young people and older groups find this really offensive, others feel it is quite mild
Motherfucker
Most offensive and most can't see any context when it would be acceptable
Prickteaser
Strongly offensive to women, especially when used about women; implies behaviour which is thought to be insulting/ plus they don't like the word
Slag
Most women find this moderately to strongly offensive - like all words referring to sexual behaviour
Slut
Most women find this moderately to strongly offensive - like all words referring to sexual behaviour
Wanker
Quite offensive to British Asian women and older men, but for most it is quite mild - equivalent to 'tosser'
Whore
Offensive, but especially to women, describes sexual behaviour; some men think it can be used in a jokey manner
Slang words for sex
Bonk
Offensive to British Asian female parents but mild to other parental groups/young African-Caribbeans non-parents also think this could be offensive, but others think it is mild
Bugger
Least offensive
Fuck/Fucking
Strongly disliked by many, very offensive most of time, but occasional toe-stubbing use appears tolerated. 'Fuck off' is aggressive and seen as worse than 'fuck' 'Fucking' added to other words intensifies any offence
Poke
Somewhat polarising. Some, e.g. British Asian women find it very offensive, but many have not really come across this. Of those who have many find it quite mild
Screw
Mild, jokey, few find this offensive
Shag
Quite offensive, with sexual connotations for some (esp. British Asian) , middle of the road for others
Terms of racial/religious faith abuse
Chink
A term of racial offence/abuse. However, this is polarising. Older and mainly white groups tend to think this is not usually used in an abusive way - e.g. let's go to the Chinky - which is not seen as offensive; younger groups and those from ethnic minorities feel this could be as insulting as 'paki' or 'nigger'
Kyke
Very few have heard of this; for those who have it comes into the racial insults category
Nigger
Racial abuse which is generally considered very offensive. "If I was called a fucking nigger, I'd be more upset by the nigger than by the fucking." (young African-Caribbean) Not offensive to some if taken into 'ownership' by Africans/AfricanCaribbeans themselves and used among their peer group.
Paki
Racial abuse which is generally considered very offensive. Not offensive to some if taken into 'ownership' by British Asians/Pakistanis and used peer to peer. However, some (white) people think it is non-offensive to talk about going to the Paki.
Papist
One Scottish group considers this quite strong/ insulting, but most have no opinion. Many of the other groups don't know this word
Pikey
Most don't really have an opinion about this word and older people don't know it. Some young people (including young African-Caribbeans) jokingly call their friends pikeys and don't think it is offensive
Spade
Many do not know this word; very offensive racial abuse to those who do know (Africans/African-Caribbeans)
Yid
Many do not know this word; offensive racial abuse to some who do know (though one talks about taking back ownership of the word which has taken out the sting)