The name for this particular sort of euphemism is minced oath. It occurs in other languages as well. The old-fashioned French interjection parbleu, for example, is a minced form of pardieu, earlier par Dieu ("by God").Hell is considered a taboo word in the english language, because of it's Biblical (Christian) association with the place Hell. Therefore, Christian minded people created a fake word (heck) to use in place of the old one (hell).
"Please be quiet" or "Be quiet, please."Thank you all very much for the explanations.
Now I have a question, in particular for jennijenni who mentioned it: so if "shut up" is considered rude in the US, how do you make somebody be quiet in a kinder way? Something like "Please, I need silence", "Be quiet", etc.?
To be fair, British english isn't real english ;d.Pardon my liberty with your words but I think it is important"Hell" is very definitely not taboo in many areas.Hell is considered a taboo word in certain sections of the global mass of speakers of the english language, because of it's Biblical (Christian) association with the place Hell. Therefore, Christian minded people created a fake word (heck) to use in place of the old one (hell).
My late father was a staunch Catholic who had no problem with the word hell.
Newspapers here, in my childhood, had no problem using the word in headlines to articles.
I feel Britons would report much the same.
Maybe not, but Hiberno-English is!To be fair, British english isn't real english ;d.
There's a big difference between a word being 'taboo' and not being suitable for use in church or with a queen of somewhere.Still, wouldn't it be impolite for a younger person to use hell in front of or to an older preson? You certainly wouldn't use that language with the queen or in church, I imagine.
According to The British Dictionary, c.1933, heck means "n. a kind of fish-net or gin; a rack for holding fodder for cattle; a bend in a stream; the latch of a door [D. hek, gate]".Hi!
I'd like to know the difference between the phrase "shut the hell up" and "shut the heck up", and also the difference between "hell" and "heck" if you don't mind.