List of Firefly slang words

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The following is a list of slang, including profanity, used in the science fiction television series Firefly. In the future portrayed in that show, the two superpowers that expand outward into space are the United States and China. As a result, both English and Mandarin Chinese are spoken by everyone (although the Mandarin is typically poorly pronounced). In the show, Mandarin is often used by the characters for very colorful swearing.

Contents

[edit] English-based curses

Some of the cursing uses new words or re-adapted English words.

  • Gorram: A variation of "god damn," pronounced (International Phonetic Alphabet: [goʊ.ɹæm]) with roughly equal stress on the two syllables, depending on the speaker.
  • Hump: A substitute for the term "screw"; as in, "we're totally humped."
  • Rutting: A mild emphatic expletive, a less offensive synonym for "fucking", as the word 'rut' is a verb meaning 'to have animalistic sex'. Example: "You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til you understand who's in ruttin' command here." -- Jayne Cobb

[edit] Mandarin curses

The Mandarin cursing is essentially intact. By using it in a show meant for English-speaking audiences, the writers were able to have actors swear in character without running afoul of television censors. Some examples include:

  • He chusheng zajiao de zanghuo! (Traditional 和畜生雜交的髒貨！, Simplified 和畜生杂交的脏货！): "Filthy fornicators of livestock!"
  • Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren dou gai si. (Traditional 你他媽的天下所有的人都該死。, Simplified 你他妈的天下所有的人都该死。): "Fuck everyone in the universe to death!"
  • Taikong suoyou de xingqiu saijin wo de pigu (Traditional 太空所有的星球塞進我的屁股, Simplified 太空所有的星球塞进我的屁股): "Stuff all the planets in the universe up my butt!" or "All the planets in outer space are stuffed up my butt!"

[edit] Other slang

  • Shiny: An adjective roughly corresponding to modern-day "cool," "neat" or "sweet."

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

The Firefly series
Episodes Serenity • The Train Job • Bushwhacked • Shindig • Safe • Our Mrs. Reynolds • Jaynestown
Out of Gas • Ariel • War Stories • Trash • The Message • Heart of Gold • Objects in Space
Spin-offs R. Tam sessions • Serenity: Those Left Behind • Serenity
Characters Derrial Book • Jayne Cobb • Kaylee Frye • Malcolm Reynolds • Inara Serra
River Tam • Simon Tam • Hoban Washburne • Zoe Washburne • Minor characters
Terminology Moons and planets • The Alliance • Blue Sun • Unification War • Serenity
Reaver • Browncoat • Firefly slang • Companion
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