Lesson 4: Understanding Euphemisms
Polite and Indirect Language
In every culture, there are topics that can be difficult or uncomfortable to talk about directly, such as death, money problems, or losing a job. In English, we often use euphemisms1—polite2, indirect3 expressions used to replace words that are considered harsh4 or embarrassing. Understanding euphemisms is a key skill for social and professional communication.
What are Euphemisms?
A euphemism is a "soft" word or phrase used in place of a "hard" one. They help us talk about sensitive subjects without being rude or causing pain.
Common Euphemisms
| Direct / Harsh Word | Common Euphemism (Polite Phrase) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| to die | to pass away | My grandfather passed away last year at the age of 90. |
| fired from a job | to be let go | The company was losing money, so several employees were let go. |
| unemployed | between jobs | I'm not working at the moment; I'm between jobs. |
| poor | financially struggling | After he lost his job, his family was financially struggling. |
| old person | senior citizen / elderly | We should offer our seat on the bus to an elderly person. |
| to go to the toilet | to use the restroom / bathroom | Excuse me, where is the restroom? |
Usage Note: Why and When to Use Euphemisms
Euphemisms are all about being polite and showing respect for other people's feelings.
- To Show Respect: We say 'passed away' out of respect for the family of the person who died.
- To Be Less Direct: It can be embarrassing to say 'I have no money'. It sounds softer to say 'I'm financially struggling'.
- In Professional Settings: In business, a manager will say an employee was 'let go' because 'fired' sounds very aggressive and negative.
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are talking about a mutual friend, David.
Srey: Bora, have you heard from David recently? I haven't seen him.
Bora: I heard he's going through a difficult time. His father passed away a few months ago.
Srey: Oh, that's terrible. I didn't know.
Bora: And his company had to close, so he was let go from his job.
Srey: So he's unemployed now?
Bora: Yes, he told me he's between jobs at the moment. I imagine his family is financially struggling.
Srey: That's very sad. We should pay him a visit and see if we can help.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. What is a polite, indirect way to say someone was fired from their job?
- a) They were kicked out.
- b) They were let go.
- c) They are bad at their job.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) They were let go.
2. If a family has very little money, you could say they are ______.
- a) between jobs
- b) passed away
- c) financially struggling
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) financially struggling
3. To be respectful when talking about an old person, you can call them a ______.
- a) senior citizen
- b) wrinkly person
- c) fossil
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) senior citizen
edit Your Mission
- Rewrite for Politeness: Rewrite these direct sentences to be more polite using a euphemism: 1. My dog died. 2. He is unemployed. 3. That man is fat.
- Find Your Own: The word 'lie' (to say something that is not true) is very direct. Can you find a euphemism for it? (Hint: it involves 'stretching').
- Speak with Politeness: Your mission is to think about how you would politely tell a friend that their idea is bad. You wouldn't say "That's a bad idea." What could you say instead? (e.g., "I have a different perspective," or "I'm not sure that's the best approach.")
book Lesson Glossary
- Euphemism (noun) - Khmer: ពាក្យវាង (peak vieng) - A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt. ↩
- Polite (adjective) - Khmer: សុភាពរាបសា (so-pheap riəp-saa) - Having good manners and showing respect for other people. ↩
- Indirect (adjective) - Khmer: ដោយប្រយោល (daoy prɑ-yaol) - Not direct; not saying something clearly. ↩
- Harsh (adjective) - Khmer: គ្រោតគ្រាត (kroat-kriet) - Unpleasantly rough, cruel, or severe. ↩
- to pass away (euphemism) - Khmer: ស្លាប់ (slap) / ទទួលមរណភាព (tâ-tuəl mô-rô-nô-pheap - formal) - A polite way to say 'to die'. ↩
- to be let go (euphemism) - Khmer: ត្រូវបានបញ្ឈប់ (trov-ban banh-chhob) - A polite way to say 'to be fired' from a job. ↩