There are plenty of bad words and swear words in English. It’s important to understand the difference between the two, though. For example, “hell” might be considered a bad word, but does that mean it’s a swear? Let’s take a closer look to find out.
Is Hell A Bad Word?
Hell is a bad word because of the religious connotations that come from it. When you use it, you’re implying that you’re sending someone to hell, which isn’t a pleasant place to be. The taboo behind the word has relaxed over recent years, though.
Why Is Hell A Bad Word?
Hell is a bad word that’s been around for a long time. It’s known as a blasphemous word, which is where you take a word from the bible and use it in a negative light. It’s used in the same manner as “taking the Lord’s name in vain.”
Hell is a bad word, though it typically doesn’t come on its own. You’ll most likely come across it in sayings like “what the hell” or “go to hell.” The idea is that we’re talking about the place in the bible where people experience eternal damnation for their sins during their lives.
Of course, if you’re not religious and don’t believe in any of the teachings in the bible, then you might not be particularly offended by someone using hell. That’s why there’s such a debate about it still being a bad word. Some people don’t see any problem with the word. Some people even use “hell” as a placeholder for other, more aggressive swear words, so it can be considered a more appropriate word.
Is Saying “What The Hell” A Bad Thing?
Saying “what the hell” is often used as an exclamation when we’re surprised by something. It’s generally acceptable to use this in place of more problematic swear words. For example, “what the f*ck” is a more aggressive variation of the phrase. We use “hell” as a holdover to make sure we’re not using a swear.
Some people believe that “what the hell” is a blasphemous phrase. If you believe in the bible and its teachings, you might consider “what the hell” a bad term. However, if you don’t, there isn’t much wrong with it, and it’s more appropriate than using a swear word in place of “hell.”
Most of the usage of “hell” in any phrase comes from a biblical standpoint. It depends entirely on one’s religious ideals and leanings.
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Is “Go To Hell” A Swear?
Sometimes, phrases that include “hell” are a little more problematic than others. For example, “go to hell” is a negative and derogatory phrase. Many people will consider this a swear, even those who don’t believe in the teachings in the bible.
“Go to hell” is a direct swear that people use to insult someone. The idea behind saying it encourages the person you’re talking to be sent to hell when they die. It’s not a nice thing to wish upon anybody and is therefore considered a swear.
You should avoid using this if you can because there are better ways to resolve an argument than resorting to swears. However, if somebody says this to you, then they intend on insulting you. Try to make sure you don’t blow up in response because that could just make the situation much worse than it needs to be.
Are “Hellish” And “Hella” Also Curse Words?
This is where things start to get a bit more interesting. In recent times, words like “hellish” and “hella” have become prevalent. People refer to things as “hellish” if they think they belong in hell (I.e., they don’t like the design of something). They say “hella” as a way of saying “very” to add emphasis to an adjective.
Neither of these words are curse words, even though they both use the biblical word “hell” to some degree.
The reason being is because “hellish” is used as an adjective. When something is “hellish,” it means we don’t like it or wish that it would be sent to hell. However, because we’re talking about objects or things mostly, it isn’t a curse word.
We use “hella” as a replacement for “very.” It’s a colloquial term, mostly used by today’s youths. Saying “I was hella happy” and “I was very happy” are identical. It’s up to you which one you’d rather use.
The only people who might be insulted by using these words are devout Christians who believe the bible to be the only way to live your life. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to dissuade these people, so it’s best not to consider them.
Can You Say Hell On The Radio Or On TV?
If “hell” is a bad word due to its biblical and blasphemous connotations, then that would mean they can’t be said on radio or TV, right? Well, no. Not in this case. In fact, “hell” is one of the few bad words that’s allowed to be said on both platforms, and we thought we’d explain a little more as to why.
There has been a steady decline in the prevalence of religion in mainstream media. Even if you look at the people around the world, you’ll notice that more people are taking an atheist viewpoint (meaning they don’t believe in a god). With those that do, most Christians became more relaxed about using blasphemy, so words like “hell” are used on radio and TV.
“Hell” is used as a replacement for other swear words on the radio on TV. Most listeners and viewers prefer hearing “hell” over any other swear word, so it works really well to hear it on both platforms.
There aren’t any rules or regulations that must be followed when using “hell” either. Many people can listen to “hell” being used in any context and any situation and not worry about its meaning.
Is Hell A Bad Word In School?
Of course, there are always places you can and can’t use a word like “hell.” School is one of those places.
If you want to stay in your teachers’ good books, you best make sure to keep your mouth clean throughout your time at school. You shouldn’t use words like “hell” just as much as you shouldn’t use any other swear word.
While the connotation of it being a biblical slur is slowly dying out, the intensity of its meaning still holds strong. It takes a long time before words like “hell” finally lose their original intent. Maybe a few hundred years in the future, we can use “hell” in a less harmful way, but for the foreseeable future, it’s best to leave the word outside of your mouth while you’re at school.
Is Hell A Bad Word In Roblox?
Two different scenarios make “hell” either a good or bad word in Roblox.
If you’re using “hell” as a name like “Tower of Hell” or something else, then Roblox will allow such things to happen without a problem. However, if you direct “hell” towards someone maliciously, like saying “go to hell,” then Roblox may take further action against your account.
Can You Say Hell At Work?
There’s also the case of saying “hell” at work. What happens then? Well, grown-ups are the only people who go to work, and they’re a lot more accustomed to hearing the word.
Unlike at school, where another student might pick up the word from someone else using it, every adult knows not to pick up words in their vocabulary if they don’t want to. That’s why there isn’t much of a problem with saying “hell” at work.
However, you shouldn’t use “hell” in front of your boss in most situations. You especially shouldn’t use it as an insult like “go to hell” or “see you in hell.” Those are both questionable uses of the word at work, and you should avoid them.
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Can You Say Hell With Your Family?
It’s difficult to answer this question without knowing a little bit more about you as the reader. However, because that’s not possible, we’ll give you a bit of advice.
You should be very familiar with your family already and how they respond to certain words. If they’re all okay with you using a word like “hell,” then, by all means, go for it! However, if you know you have a conservative family, or one that doesn’t appreciate blasphemy like that, then you better not use it to them.
There’s no right or wrong that we can tell you here. It’s entirely based on you and your own family.
Is Hell A Bad Word In The Bible?
Most of the reason why “hell” is a bad word in the first place is because of the connotations it has in the bible.
Many people believe that “hell” is where you go when you’ve sinned in your life. It’s where the sinners go to be punished, and it’s the reason the word was ever used as a swear or curse word in the first place.
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