🤬 Can Swearing Really Reduce Pain?
- Edward Walsh
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Imagine you stub your toe on the corner of the bed. What comes out of your mouth? If you’re like most people, probably not “oh dear.”
For centuries, swearing has been dismissed as crude, lazy, or unethical. But science is beginning to reveal a surprising truth: swearing may actually help us cope with pain.
A recent study from Keele University put this idea to the test with traditional and brand-new, made-up swear words. The results pose questions about how language, emotion and our personhood are intertwined.
The Swearing Lab
In this new study, researchers compared:
A conventional swear word (“f***”)
Two invented words (“fouch” and “twizpipe”) designed to feel emotional, humorous or distracting
A neutral word (e.g., “solid”)
Participants immersed their hands in icy water (a standard pain-induction method called the cold pressor test) while repeating one of these words.
What They Found
The results were striking:
Real swearing worked: Saying “f***” increased pain threshold (how long before pain was felt) by 32% and pain tolerance (how long participants kept their hand submerged) by 33% compared to neutral words.
Made-up swears didn’t: “Fouch” and “twizpipe” were rated as more emotional and humorous than neutral words, but they had no effect on pain tolerance or threshold.
Not just distraction: Although swearing was rated as the most distracting, the pain relief effect wasn’t explained by distraction either.
This study left researchers clear that swearing relieves pain, but scratching their heads about why.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t hold back in a pinch: If you’re in sudden acute pain (like stubbing a toe, hitting your funny bone, or during a back spasm), letting out a swear word may provide some relief.
Use sparingly: The analgesic effect is reduced if you swear all the time (Stephens and Umland, 2011). Think of it like pain relief “ammo”, more potent when reserved for real need.
Conclusion
Swearing is a social taboo encompassing a powerful relationship between emotion, language, and pain.
While made-up cursing falls flat, real swearing offers a natural burst of pain relief.
Next time you experience pain? Science says effing and jeffing may help.
References
Stephens, R., & Robertson, O. (2020). Swearing as a Response to Pain: Assessing Hypoalgesic Effects of Novel "Swear" Words. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 723. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00723
Stephens, R., & Umland, C. (2011). Swearing as a response to pain-effect of daily swearing frequency. The journal of pain, 12(12), 1274–1281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2011.09.004
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