Feb 25, 2025
Have you ever heard people trying to tone down a certain word so that it sounds more polite, or say something indirectly so it doesn't sound as unpleasant? If yes, you probably know what a Euphemism is.
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A euphemism is a polite way of saying something that might otherwise sound harsh and unpleasant. For example, in an interaction, Shashi Tharoor gives the example that people use the word ‘Poo’ instead of the other word to mellow down the sentence.
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‘He died’ or ‘Her death came as a shock’ have a common distressing word - Die. And so, as an alternative, people came up with ‘passed away’ or ‘crossed the light’ to convey death.
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In workspaces, layoffs and firings are difficult decisions. And to say someone got fired is also rather harsh. And so, the new term people use, the euphemism for the same, is ‘He or she was let go’.
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Calling someone ‘old’ or ‘aged’ does not feel respectful at all, and some might even take offense over these terms. And thus, the correct alternative is ‘senior citizen’.
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Another word that is extremely common but not very professional is ‘toilet’. And so, most people use the word ‘restroom’ or ‘powder room’ to refer to the loo.
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While it is fairly common to say that you are ill, sick, or feeling unwell, it sure isn’t very professional and makes you think twice before hitting send. And thus, the alternate term is ‘under the weather’.
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It is outright rude and unprofessional to say that ‘Oh, he or she is unemployed’. And thus, the euphemism for unemployment came as ‘between jobs’.
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Describing a person as overweight or obese is not body positive and is shunned upon by many, And so, the words used are either ‘curvy’ or ‘healthy’.
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One of the most common terms people use to describe their househelp is either ‘servant’ or ‘maid’. But both of these terms are rather derogatory and should not be used. And the correct alternatives are ‘domestic help’ or ‘househelp’.
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To describe a person who cannot see, the common word is ‘blind’. But to claim that someone is blind is considered rude and thus people remark them as ‘visually impaired’.
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