cuss
To swear; also a swear word itself.
Also called curse, swear.
Updated September 21, 2026
cuss pronunciation
/KUSS/
Meaning
Cuss is the rural American way of saying curse. You cuss when the wrench slips, you let out a cuss when the truck won't start, and Mama still says don't cuss in the house. Same idea as swear, just the porch version.
How folks use it
- “Don't cuss in front of the preacher.”
- “He let out a cuss when he hit his thumb with the hammer.”
Origin and etymology
American dialect pronunciation of curse, dropping the r the way hoss comes from horse. The verb for swearing is recorded by 1815; the noun for a curse by 1848. It stuck hard in Southern and Appalachian talk and never needed polishing.
Frequently asked questions
Can cuss be a noun too?
Yes. A cuss can mean a swear word, or sometimes a person, like that stubborn old cuss.