Kéic! Zireen Expletives!
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The Zireen language is not particularly rich in expletives compared to English, and most of the ones that do exist are of the "swear word" variety. There are almost no insulting epithets, racial slurs, or other degrading expressions, and none of the anatomical or sexual vocabulary is considered at all objectionable. But there are times when even fun-loving Zireen lose their temper, and rather than turn to violence, they prefer to use rude language to express their anger and frustration. The expletives in this list are arranged roughly in order from milder to most extreme.
qjs (tèk) "damn". The ordinary meaning is exceedingly, but if it is used anywhere other than immediately after a verb (or adjective), it is an extreme emphatic, often the equivalent of English damn or dammit.
- ohmqfnqai mqfmsie qjs nqdi (lasezî: seci: tèk zâi) "I enjoy flirting with Mizarians exceedingly!"
- ohmqfnqai mqfmsie nqdi qjs (lasezî: seci: zâi tèk) "I enjoy flirting with Mizarians, dammit!"
- sinqdl qenqdi qfmremrfb qjs h plhn sdi (kìzâ: tizâi texixé: tèk a va:r kâi) "That's an exceedingly admirable picture of tree-rats breeding!"
- qjs sinqdl qenqdi qfmremrfb h plhn sdi (tèk kìzâ: tizâi texixé: a va:r kâi) "Damn, that's an admirable picture of tree-rats breeding!"
- qjs mqfsll qga (tèk sekà: túi) "I don't give a damn!"
sfams (kéic) "virus". This is a mild expletive, not quite as strong as English shit, but used in similar circumstances.
- sfams mlhnrha si atmqenk h nrbjt rai (kéic sha:jái kì ínsirù a jê:n yî:) "Oh shit, that cyclone is coming in this direction!"
- tdltli sfams mritdl (nâ:nài kéic xìnâ:) "We're in deep shit!"
rdk (yâu) "extremely painful". Often used similarly to the English damn (damned, goddamn), bloody, or fucking, to express annoyance for example.
- gmrb semqkg sai rdk si (uxé kisu: kî: yâu kì) "Stop playing that damned song!"
- nqdl qdlm ptje rdk (zâ: tâ:sh mei yâu) "It's too fucking loud!"
slsqci (kàktûi) "torture". The equivalent of English hell (for which the Zireen have no concept). Though borrowed from the Nikta word !t3q'áqtùi, it is also suggestive of the Zireen word tûi, meaning "ugly".
- slsqci qll mqfbpthdo (kàktûi tà: sé:má:l) "What the hell are you doing?!"
- rcnqdl slsqci nqj tdi (yúzâ: kàktûi zè nâi) "It's hell as usual. (Situation normal, all fucked up.)"
- gseaqfmr slsqci (ukí:tex kàktûi) "Go to hell! (Fuck off!)"
nrgdlms (juâ:c) "war". This word is only used in extreme cases of violent anger or frustration; it is even more disgusting than the English word fuck, which is its closest equivalent. Juâ:clù:, the usual word used to translate "war", is tamed somewhat by the -lù: suffix, giving it the added connotation of "unfortunate" or "wrongful", but it is still a word that is best avoided in polite conversation. Any mention of war without an immediate identification of its evil nature is one of the most disgusting concepts imaginable to a Zireen.
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