Talk:трёхэтажное слово

@Atitarev I think we need some explanation here, because I don't see what this refers to. --Per utramque cavernam 21:59, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Looks like it can refer to any swear word (in which case the "euphemistic" gloss isn't appropriate). Equinox ◑ 22:14, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

I don't see why that would mean it's not euphemistic. It is euphemistic. --WikiTiki89 23:20, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Euphemism is like saying "fudge" instead of the taboo word "fuck". Saying "a four-letter word" instead of "a swear-word" (if I understand what this entry is trying to convey) is not avoiding any taboo word. Equinox ◑ 00:16, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

You're misunderstanding. It's not used to avoid a swear word, it's used to avoid the word "swear word", so to speak. --WikiTiki89 00:22, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

@Per_utramque_cavernam, Wikitiki89, Benwing2, Stephen G. Brown: It's more common to hear "трёхэта́жный мат" - "three-storey" swearing, meaning a very long or impressive expletive. "трёхэтажное слово" would refer not just any swearword but something really juicy. It is euphemistic. "трёхэта́жный" just means here "big", "juicy" (of swearwords). --Anatoli T. ^{(обсудить}/^вклад) 01:34, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

The subject of taboo language is changing these days, and these terms are not nearly as strong today as they once were. I remember 50 years ago that мат (foul language) was too strong for use in mixed company, public places, etc. It's like the English word fart, which is not considered offensive today, but 50 years ago it was very offensive and was a word that one would not use in the presence of ladies or in public places such as classrooms. I still know elderly people today who are offended by words such as fart, and who will change a TV channel if they hear it uttered. The thing is, saying покрывать матом (to heap "mat" on someone) can cause a listener to imagine such мат words against his will, so merely saying мат or "foul language" could be (used to be) offensive. Therefore, a euphemism was found (трёхэтажное слово, four-storey words, four-letter words) that mean such foul language, but are somehow innocent enough that the audience is not forced to imagine any of the words. That is the best way that I can describe the situation. I know it's hard for younger people to comprehend, because these words today are not offensive to them and they don't see how they could ever have been offensive to anyone. —Stephen ^(Talk) 04:40, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

Then why is four-letter word not glossed as a euphemism? (In my opinion it isn't one, because the phrase "swear word" is not offensive to begin with.) Equinox ◑ 09:56, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

@Wikitiki89, haven't you just reworded what Equinox said in his 00:16 message? If it just means "swear word", i.e. "ругательство" and its synonyms (which themselves aren't offensive/vulgar (?)), then I don't see how it's a euphemism; there's nothing to "euphemise" in the first place.

But I'm still not clear on why it's called a "three-storey word". Does this refer to a set of vulgar three-letter words in Russian, the same way "four-letter word" refers to a set of vulgar four-letter words in English (fuck, cunt, etc.)?

Or is it just a figurative way of saying "a long/high word"? But then, why does it refer only to vulgar "long/high words"? @Atitarev, could you add some sentence examples, and maybe some examples of трёхэтажные слова? --Per utramque cavernam 10:09, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

@Per utramque cavernam: Euphemisms aren't only for avoiding offensive words. Pass away is a euphemism for die, but die is not offensive, it's just an uncomfortable concept, kind of like swear-words. --WikiTiki89 13:36, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

You're right, my bad. --Per utramque cavernam 17:58, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

@Per utramque cavernam: Of interest is the adjective, not the whole collocation, I am not even sure it's idiomatic enough to keep. "трёхэтажный" can be combined with "мат", "ругательство", "слова", "выражения", "фразы" - mostly plural. When I hear "трёхэтажный мат", I picture a three-story house with open windows and people are yelling abuse from all windows. It's a bit humorous. None of the combination is a full equivalent of "four-letter word". I have added a citation at трёхэтажный. --Anatoli T. ^{(обсудить}/^вклад) 11:33, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

Reminds me of ten-dollar word (specifically for needlessly long or pretentious words). Equinox ◑ 11:17, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

Good obesrvation! --Anatoli T. ^{(обсудить}/^вклад) 11:33, 30 April 2018 (UTC)