JENI O’DOWD: Can Gen Z reclaim the most offensive word in the English language?

Few words in the English language spark more visceral reactions than the C-word. For decades, it has been the ultimate insult, particularly towards women — sharp, vulgar, and unforgivable.

But something extraordinary is happening among younger generations. They’ve taken this once-taboo term and turned it into something positive.

“She looks C...y,” they now say as a compliment. Or: “That’s so C….y!” as in something great.

It’s clear amongst this generation that what was once the biggest insult has become a badge of empowerment.

I know this will offend some readers. The C-word is, for many, one of the most offensive words in the English language, steeped in a history of misogyny.

But the evolution of language is complex, and ignoring this shift doesn’t make it any less real or significant.

Inventing words or using them differently is nothing new across generations. Take phrases like “cool bananas” to express excitement or approval in the 1960s and 70s or the Aussie classic “the duck’s nuts,” which means something exceptional.

More recently, Millennials popularised the word “lit” to describe something amazing, while Gen Z has transformed “slay” from its original meaning into a compliment for doing something fabulous.

Language has always evolved to reflect the creativity and identity of each generation.

The reimagined C-word has even been used to title popular American singer Adam Lambert’s new single — CVNTY. This is a perfect example of how this word is being reimagined and embraced in new, empowering ways.

It also shows how the word is already transcending generations, as Lambert was born in 1982.

“We spelt it with a V just so we could get it on social media,” Lambert, a runner-up in American Idol with more than a million followers on TikTok, said.

“It means you’re fierce, you’re sexy, you’re powerful. You put on an outfit that’s C…y, and it’s a badass outfit.”

Reclaiming offensive words is a recurring trend across generations. Top Aussie demographer Mark McCrindle, founder and principal of social research firm McCrindle Research, told The Nightly that youth culture has long been a breeding ground for pushing linguistic boundaries.

“Historically, reclaiming offensive words has been a hallmark of youth culture,” he said.

“We’ve seen the Black community embrace the N-word, the gay community reclaim the F-word, and other groups turn derogatory terms into symbols of identity and empowerment.”

But, Mr McCrindle pointed out, the C-word is different.

I love the way they’ve stripped this incredibly misogynistic word of its power and turned it on its head.

“It’s still highly offensive to many, particularly older generations,” he said. “Language is a shared code, and when people operate with different understandings of that code, it can create division and fragmentation.”

While some might see the C-word’s reclamation as empowering, Mr McCrindle said there would likely be a strong backlash.

“It’s still at an early stage, and the risks and downsides of this shift are incredibly high,” he said.

“Unlike other reclaimed words, the C-word has always been seen as one of the most profane. For it to come back into use will likely intensify generational divides and cause friction.”

Boomers and Gen X, who grew up understanding the C-word as unforgivable, are unlikely to embrace this new interpretation.

“While society has become more open to boundary-pushing language, it’s always been for a softer, more cautious world,” Mr McCrindle said.

“Terms like ‘trigger warnings’ and ‘psychological safety’ are part of the conversation now. Words with abusive or gendered histories, like the C-word, remain especially contentious.”

The resurgence of the C-word also creates challenges for schools and workplaces, which are far more conservative than ever nowadays.

“Schools, in particular, take a punitive approach to words that marginalise or offend, and the C-word is one of those,” Mr McCrindle said.

“Young people might think they’re reclaiming the word, but when it’s overheard by teachers or used in formal settings, it can lead to suspensions, reprimands, or worse.

“The mixed messages from peers, popular culture, and institutional rules make this a fraught issue. I don’t think this societal shift will be broadly accepted — it’s simply too taboo.”

The C-word’s positive reinterpretation remains primarily within Gen Z, where it is shared among friends or on social platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.

Young people use the term among themselves and avoid sharing it with older generations — although Adam Lambert was born in 1982 and has many fans of the same age.

For young people, their secrecy may be intentional, a way to preserve their new interpretation without interference from older generations.

So, will Gen Z succeed in their push to transform the most offensive word in the English language into something empowering?

They face an uphill battle in today’s cancel culture, with the PC police lurking around every corner. But I hope they do. I love the way they’ve stripped this incredibly misogynistic word of its power and turned it on its head.