Thread by @MerriamWebster

Congratu-BLEEPING-lations!

It’s time we had a little talk about your use of expletive infixation.

‘Expletive infixation’ is the linguistic term for profanity inserted into a word for emphasis.

(For this thread, we’ll use 'BLEEPING,' but feel free to substitute another word.)

Why do we say ‘fan-BLEEPING-tastic’ but not ‘fantas-BLEEPING-tic’?

The main reason, linguists believe, is that the curse word comes before the syllable that bears the primary stress. (The ‘tas’ is stressed in ‘fantastic.’)

Okay, but what about ‘unbelievable,’ where ‘liev’ is stressed?

If you say ‘unbe-BLEEPING-lievable,’ that follows the normal pattern.

But the equally familiar ‘un-BLEEPING-believable’ is an exception.

Either works. So listen to your heart.

These rules were never taught to you!

In fact, expletives were probably WITHHELD from you when you learned the language...

You innately acquired rules that govern the structure and pronunciation of words.

Your sub-BLEEPING-conscious is a powerful thing!

Try inserting an expletive in the following words.

(No need to respond with your answers, we’re a family-friendly dictionary.)

absolutely
hypocritical
Minnesota
avocado