Line #65 Main/InnocentSwearing


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/FoxTrot https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kidswears.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350: Well, if you didn't want to have her say ''that word'', you shouldn't have watched [[Series/JerrySpringer that show]] in front of her in the '''first''' place.]]
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7	->'''Mrs. Read:''' Well, you're off the hook this time because you didn't know what you were saying. But I hope you know now that swear words are not appropriate things to say, especially for three and four year old children. \
8	'''D.W.:''' Why?\
9	'''Mrs. Read:''' Because most people are offended by them. It's as simple as that.\
10	'''D.W.:''' But why? What do they mean?\
11	'''Mrs. Read:''' I guess you could say they mean "I want to hurt your feelings".
12	-->-- ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', from the end of the episode "Bleep"
13
14	When someone uses a naughty word without realizing it's a naughty word. Quite often, the person (almost always a child) will get into a lot of trouble for using such a bad word without knowing the meaning of the word or [[BewilderingPunishment what he or she has done wrong]].
15
16	Related to EntendreFailure. Can lead to a SwearWordPlot about how the word is offensive and shouldn't be used. Compare FeeFiFauxPas. Compare InnocentBigot if it is a racial slur that a child/children say without knowing the meaning of such words. TruthInTelevision for kids who are [[FromTheMouthsOfBabes very young or very sheltered]]. See also FowlMouthedParrot if the one doing the swearing is an animal.
17
18	----
19	!!Examples:
20	[[foldercontrol]]
21
22	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
23	* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' has a stark, morbid example. A very young Rei Ayanami calls Naoko Akagi a "hag"; while shocked, Naoko takes it softly and gently discourages her from using the word. Again, though, Rei insists that she is a "hag", sincerely and flatly. Naoko, now starting to get angry, warns her that she intends to spank her and tell Gendo. [[spoiler:Rei asks her why she would tell him, when he is the one who refers to Naoko (his lover) as this, quoting him as saying "'That hag is useless'... 'That hag is unwanted'... 'That hag'"]]. [[spoiler:Naoko snaps and strangles her to death, and then either kills herself or is murdered shortly thereafter.]]
24	* ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'': The English dub of the episode "Majorika Goes To Kindergarten" has Caitlyn's mother react in shock when she accuses her sister Dorie of carousing, immediately causing her to question where she learned such a word.
25	* ''Anime/Persona4TheAnimation'': In episode 20, Nanako happily announces to the group that the fortune teller at the cultural festival told her that Yu was a "gigolo" (translated as "man-whore" in the dub). The teller is Margaret, though Yu and the audience only know that by her voice.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
29	* ''ComicStrip/BabyBlues'': One storyline had infant Wren naming her stuffed puppy a curse word (censored with SymbolSwearing). Her parents calmly explain to her that she can't call her puppy that, so she gives it a different name... a DIFFERENT curse word that was presumably even worse.
30	* ''ComicStrip/TheFamilyCircus'' had this with Jeffy, who swore and got spanked as a result.
31	* ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'' had an example involving April where she overheard a swear word and repeats it proudly. Elly tells her that the word she used is not appropriate language to use. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted when]] April replies "I know. I was just testing you" to Elly's shocked expression.
32	* ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'': One storyline has Paige watching ''[[Series/TheJerrySpringerShow Jerzy Spaniel]]'' while babysitting. Of course, the kid hears a bad word and starts repeating it. In the epilogue, Paige reports that the mother was surprisingly understanding, saying that kids always hear bad words and repeat them, but if you don't use them often or attach special significance to them, they'll eventually drop it. ''Then'' they discussed Paige's watching ''Jerzy Spaniel'' while babysitting...
33	* ''ComicStrip/JumpStart'': Teddy's first word ends up being a swear word, and they can't get him to stop saying it. Then he ends up shouting it while in the family's in church.
34	* ''ComicStrip/{{Marvin}}'': In one storyline, Marvin learned a swear word, represented by him yelling "Censored!" He figured it meant "mommy", as every time he said it she'd run over urgently.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Fan Works]]
38	* In the ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' "merfolk AU" fanfic ''Fanfic/ByTheSea'', one of the first English words the merman Cody learns is "fuck". Obi-Wan is mortified at the prospect of accidentally teaching a mythical creature profanity, although it doesn't take Cody very long to learn that's what it is. Cody comes to prefer its sharpness over Mando'a profanity.
39	* In ''Fanfic/DoYouBelieveInFairies'', the cute and innocent [[NatureSpirit Harvest Sprite]] Finn repeats back Evelyn's cursing at her. She quickly notes not to curse around him:
40	-->'''Evelyn''': "Wow, my delusions of grandeur aren’t even original. A Chosen One? What am I, Harry fucking Potter?”\
41	'''Finn''': "What’s a hairy fucking potter?” \
42	'''Evelyn''': "Okay, no cursing in front of the adorably innocent fairy hallucination. I feel like a Mom all of a sudden.”
43	* ''Webcomic/{{Hollowtale}}'' has two non-verbal [[HandSignals sign language]] examples:
44	** In [[https://www.deviantart.com/thejessofmess/art/Rude-Gesture-845377988 one side comic]], as Sans watched the Knight learning [=MoSL=] ([[FunWithAcronyms Monster Sign Language]]), he decided to teach them some "advanced signs" not featured in the [=MoSL=] book, and tells them to sign them to Papyrus. Shortly after, the Knight comes to Papyrus and, as instructed by Sans, shows him the [[FlippingTheBird middle finger gesture]]. Papyrus is...less than amused.
45	--->'''Papyrus''': OH MY GOD HOW RUDE! WHERE DID YOU EVEN LEARN THAT?!\
46	''[cut to the panel of Sans laughing]''\
47	'''Papyrus''' ''([[DistantReactionShot off-panel]])'': '''SANS!'''
48	** In [[https://www.deviantart.com/thejessofmess/art/Bad-Unfluence-847462404 the next side comic]], when Papyrus was calling out Sans on being a terrible influence to the Knight, the Knight decides to interfere to innocently ask Papyrus about another gesture they learned from Sans. Said gesture turned out to be a [=MoSL=] sign for "asshole". For Papyrus, this was the last straw, and he gave Sans a TimeOut in the corner, complete with the DunceCap.
49	* In ''Webcomic/ReunionFalls'', it's implied that [[https://sailorleo.tumblr.com/post/129380397580/seriously-i-said-crap-at-a-band-concert-when-i being around Wendy made Dipper more comfortable with swearing.]]
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
53	* In ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'', the innocent puppy, Perrito, would sometimes swear without realisation. With his past owner calling him "[bleep] for brains" and when reliving his past or calling the Bear family names, his words are covered in bleep noises.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
57	* ''Film/AnAngelAtMyTable'': Young Janet does not know certain words are not to be said at the dinner table.
58	-->'''Janet''': Myrtle and Ted did it in the plannies this afternoon.
59	-->'''Father''': Did what?
60	-->'''Janet''': Fucked.
61	-->''[Father angrily slams down fist on table and goes to [[CorporalPunishment belt]] Myrtle]''
62	* ''Film/DonnieDarko'': "What's a fuckass?"
63	* From ''Film/BlastFromThePast'':
64	-->'''Calvin:''' It's still not safe to go up. We're going to have to wait twenty-four hours.\
65	'''Helen:''' Oh, shit!\
66	''[Helen immediately covers her mouth]''\
67	'''Calvin:''' Excuse your mother's French, son.\
68	'''Adam:''' "Shit" is French?\
69	'''Calvin:''' Its... uh... a colloquialism meaning... roughly... good.\
70	'''Adam:''' Well then.... Shit!\
71	'''Calvin and Helen:''' Heh heh. ''[sigh]''
72	* From ''[[Film/MeetTheParents Meet The Fockers]]'', Little Jack's first word is "asshole".
73	* ''Film/ThePursuitOfHappyness''
74	-->'''Chris:''' The sign is spelled happiness with an H-A-P-P-Y instead of H-A-P-P-I.\
75	'''Chris Jr.:''' Is fuck spelled right?\
76	'''Chris:''' Well, yes, but you shouldn't use that word, it's a word grownups use when they're angry.
77	* ''Film/ComingToAmerica'', Akeem, an African prince who comes to live in New York thinks that "fuck you" is greeting.
78	-->'''Akeem:''' ''(standing on a balcony)'' Good morning, my neighbors!
79	-->'''Man:''' Hey, fuck you!
80	-->'''Akeem:''' ''(joyfully)'' YES, YES! FUCK YOU TOO!
81	** "What does dumbfuck mean?"
82	* From ''Film/MrsDoubtfire,'' "We're his goddamn kids too."
83	-->'''Miranda:''' [[WhatTheHellHero Any other choice phrases you'd like to teach our five-year-old, Daniel]]?
84	* Towards the end of ''Film/WeBoughtAZoo'', little Rosie informs a USDA inspector visiting the eponymous zoo that everyone has said that he was "a dick." She admits that she doesn't know what it means.
85	* ''Film/CoalMinersDaughter'': When Doolittle and Music/LorettaLynn are buying baloney at a store, Doo says that baloney makes you horny. Supremely innocent Loretta asks what "horny" means, whereupon Doo cackles with laughter and says "Kinda tired, like." Unfortunately , when she's interviewed on the radio she starts talking about how when she and Doo get to feeling 'horny' they just pull right off to the side of the road and do it. She means take a nap.
86	* ''Film/BigDaddy'' has Julian's "The goddamn Jets."
87	* In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', Tony's reaction to the fact that [[spoiler:he's discovered a plausible means of TimeTravel]] is to fall back in his chair and say "Shit!" Then he hears his four year-old daughter Morgan, who's sitting behind him on the stairs, repeat the same thing.
88	-->'''Tony:''' ''(makes a shushing motion and whispers)'' What are you doing up, little miss?\
89	'''Morgan:''' ''(smiles)'' Shit.
90	* In ''Film/{{TAU}}'', the titular AI computer provides an example when it turns out he has not been programmed to know the F-word:
91	-->'''TAU:''' Why do you not know everything?
92	-->'''Julia:''' Because I am not a fucking scholar.
93	-->'''TAU:''' What is a Fucking Scholar?
94	-->'''Julia:''' (''Gets the giggles, to TAU's bewilderment'')
95	* A rare non-verbal example involving a grown adult in ''{{Film/Bean}}'': Mr. Bean, for reasons known only to the almighty, doesn't know that flipping someone the middle finger is an obscene gesture and thinks it's an American gesture for "goodbye" after some random street toughs flip him off midway through the movie. So the host family he's staying with over the course of the film are somewhat off-put when he says goodbye by flipping them off as he leaves.
96	* In ''Film/WishYouWereHere1987'', Lynda tells a psychiatrist that she began swearing when she was very little. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c0B3fS7OUY This brilliant scene has to be seen to be believed.]]
97	--> '''Psychiatrist''': You must know a filthy, dirty, smutty word beginning with F.
98	--> '''Lynda''': Why are you asking me?
99	--> '''Psychiatrist''': Because I want to hear you say it.
100	--> '''Lynda''': You dirty old bugger!
101	* The titular ''Film/{{Starman}}'' does this after learning a new word from Jenny and being unclear on the definition beyond it being "not a nice word":
102	-->'''Waitress:''' "Hey, what can I get you two?"
103	-->'''Starman:''' "Shit." ''waitress stares in confusion''
104	-->'''Jenny:''' "Don't mind him; he's just learning to speak English."
105	-->'''Waitress:''' "Well, he's got a hell of a start on it."
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Jokes]]
109	* "When I was very young, my mother always said "pardon my French" when she swore. So you can imagine the reaction of the teacher in my first French lesson after she asked if we knew any French."
110	* [[SarcasmMode For some inexplicable reson]] children in a kindergarden start swearing like sailors after two repairmen come to fix wiring, even though [[BlatantLies all that one of them said was]] "Jack, can't you see that molten tin is dripping from your soldering-gun directly on your partner's neck?"
111	* A teacher is watching a pupil try to build a play house, and asks the child how they knew how to build the play house. The child says he knew through watching the builders at his home install a conservatory. The teacher then asks the child when they will be finished by. The child says "By next Tuesday, if we can get the fucking bricks". Collapse of teacher in laughter!
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Literature]]
115	* In ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' ''and the Big Blooper'', with Sister Bear and her friend Lizzie watching a video that belonged to the latter's brother -- ''[[ShowWithinAShow Trouble at Big Bear High]]'' and learn a few insults like "phooey" and "fudge" and an offensive word that is never said exactly what word it was, just that [[AndThatsTerrible it sounded offensive]].
116	* ''[[Literature/EmilOfLonneberga Emil of Lönneberga]]'': In one of the stories by Creator/AstridLindgren, Emil decides to teach his little sister Ida all the words he gets chastized for saying, and telling her she must not ever use these words. He is quite honest in his intentions, he's just become victim to some InsaneTrollLogic.
117	* ''Literature/TheJungle'' has little Antanas learn "God damn" and start repeating it after his father reacts to his saying it with laughter.
118	* ''Literature/LifeTheUniverseAndEverything'': In the American edition,[[note]]The original joke, used in the UK edition, is that there is a film award for "Most Gratuitous Use of the Word 'Fuck' in a Serious Screenplay". Adams re-wrote this section in the American edition to avoid using the F-word, and added another layer to the joke in the process.[[/note]] the word "Belgium" is the vilest profanity imaginable on every planet except Earth (and thus can only be used in serious screenplays). Arthur Dent is not aware of this, being from Earth, and so he repeats the word in conversation.
119	* In ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad The Mallorean]]'', Belgarath mentions the name "Zandramas" to the leader of the Ulgos -- only to learn that it is an [[BilingualBackfire absolutely horrific word in their language]].
120	* The novel ''My Best Fiend'' had one chapter where the headmistress was cracking down on swearing at the school. When the main character's friend fell and got a nasty gash on her leg, and all the other kids were crowding round, she shouted "She can't move her bloody leg!" A variant, since she ''did'' know "bloody" was a swear, but that wasn't what she ''meant''; she meant the leg was covered in blood. She explained this to the headmistress, who agreed that [[HaveAGayOldTime it was a shame perfectly good words]] ''became'' swears.
121	* In ''On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft'', Creator/StephenKing recalls that when he was a child, he thought that "bitch" meant "an extremely tall woman" ("A son of a bitch was apt to be a basketball player!").
122	* Famous Victorian poet Creator/RobertBrowning used the word "twat" in ''Literature/PippaPasses''. Browning was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pippa_Passes#.22A_distressing_blunder.22 under the mistaken impression]] that "twat" meant a part of a nun's habit.
123	** It's sometimes mistaken for an example of HaveAGayOldTime. Weirdly, it isn't- everyone but Browning was using it in exactly the same way as now.
124	** He innocently got it out of an older work that was actually sarcastically referring to Church corruption: "a bishop's mitre or an old nun's twat."
125	* In ''Literature/TheShining'', when five-year-old Danny and his mother, Wendy talk about the family car:
126	-->'''Danny:''' Do you think the bug will break down?\
127	'''Wendy:''' No, I don't think so.\
128	'''Danny:''' Dad said it might. He said the fuel pump was all shot to shit.\
129	'''Wendy:''' Don't say that, Danny.\
130	'''Danny:''' ''[surprised]'' Fuel pump?
131	* ''[[Literature/ThursdayNext Something Rotten]]'' has two-year-old Friday Next learn naughty words (notably "bum", "bubbies", "arse" and "pikestaff" [[ForeignLookingFont rendered in an Old English font]]) from St. Zvlkx. Thursday speaks as if she isn't certain what he said the first time he uses them, but the second time she tells her son, "If those are rude Old English words, St. Zvlkx is in a lot of trouble--and so are you, my little fellow."
132	* From a ''Franchise/StarWars'' EU story: "Daddy, what's [[PardonMyKlingon kriffing]]?"
133	* ''Literature/{{Thud}}'': Sam Vimes reads his son his own version of ''Literature/WheresMyCow'' with the catchphrases of prominent Ankh-Morporkians instead of animal noises, including Foul Old Ron's "Bugrit! Millenium hand and shrimp!" The next day Young Sam announced "Buglit!" to his nanny, and from then on Vimes sticks to the written version.
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
137	* ''Series/AmericasFunniestHomeVideos'' has a clip featuring a little boy doing an imitation of his dad golfing. Using a toy golf club, the child takes a swing, throws his club to the ground and yells "Damn it!"
138	* ''Series/BetweenTheLines1992'': At the climax of the first season, the main villain becomes tangled up in a group of schoolchildren while trying to flee the heroes. As he tries to push the kids out of the way, one of them can clearly be heard to say (probably unscripted) "you dirty bastard!".
139	* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': In the episode "Moo Moo", a scene with Jake and Amy babysitting Terry's young twin daughters ends with one of them innocently asking what an orgasm is. The next day, Amy apologetically tells Terry that she panicked and said it was another word for "orange".
140	-->'''Terry:''' Yeah, it did make it awkward when they asked for "orgasm juice" this morning...
141	* ''Series/TheDickVanDykeShow'': One episode revolves around Richie learning several swear words from another kid he made friends with at school. The episode ends with Rob and Laura confronting the boy's parents about what he's been saying, only to find that they wanted to talk to Rob and Laura because their son was disturbed about some things Richie had been saying as well.
142	* ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'': In the episode "Teddy on Ice", little Charlie says a naughty word, which lands her in time-out. Her parents, Bob and Amy, spend the episode trying to (unsuccessfully) figure out who taught Charlie the word. Finally, while driving, Amy is cut off and shouts the bad word ([[SoundEffectBleep over her car horn]]), revealing herself to be the culprit and winding up in time-out at the end.
143	* In an episode of ''Series/GrowingPains'', Chrissy, then a toddler, repeatedly says a curse word, signaled by a "Cuckoo!" sound.
144	* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': While discussing the AttentionWhore lead singer of The Mother's band Marshall offers to yell insulting things like "the lead singer sucks skunk junk!" during a performance. Cue Marshall's infant son Marvin, who was sitting behind him, repeating "skunk junk" as [[BabysFirstWords his first words]]. Marshall and The Mother look around in horror and hurriedly agree that if anyone asks they'll claim his first word was actually "Mommy".
145	* ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'': One challenge involved the guys working with a kid, Luke, who closed out the explanation of the challenge with "Let's do this, bitches!" (Cue the guys falling apart).
146	* ''Series/LittleHouseOnThePrairie'' has the Ingalls briefly move to the city and get a house near the local bar. This leads to the youngest daughter Carrie exclaiming "Damn!" at the dinner table. Pa reprimands her and tells her to ask him about unfamiliar words before using them in the future.
147	* ''Series/ModernFamily'': Little Lily quickly starts firing off the F-word … ''at a wedding'', her dads' attempts to stop her in vain.
148	* ''Series/{{Outnumbered}}'': In "The School Run", six-year-old Karen asks her father, Pete, about some words she overheard:
149	-->'''Karen:''' What's a twat? ''[Pete looks at her surprised]'' Twat.\
150	'''Pete:''' It's not a very nice word for children to use. Where did you hear that -- you've been watching ''Trisha'' or something?\
151	'''Karen:''' No, last night when you were arguing with Mum.\
152	'''Pete:''' Well, mummies and daddies do argue sometimes, don't they? You shout sometimes, don't you? Did you... did you hear any other words?\
153	'''Karen:''' There were some other words that I heard but I just can't remember them.\
154	'''Pete:''' Good.\
155	'''Karen:''' Something about midlife. Something about... pillock, and there's pillock and another word. I think it's ponk. And there was one and it was tight-bum.\
156	'''Pete:''' Right, well, probably best not to use those too often.
157	* ''Series/RomperRoom'': The Japanese version had an unintentional example that is a well-known [[PopCultureUrbanLegends urban legend]]. There are rumors of an episode where Miss Midori, the Japanese localization's hostess, asked the children if they know any words beginning with "ki", and a boy responded with "I know: ''kintama''!", which is Japanese slang for testicles. Miss Midori then asked the boy if he could think of anything more ''kireina'' ("nice" in Japanese), prompting the boy to respond with "Kireina kintama!" ("Nice nuts!"). The boy was then replaced with a teddy bear after a commercial break.
158	[[/folder]]
159
160	[[folder:Music]]
161	* In the song "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins, the singer mentions a time when his four year old said "shit" in front of him. His son mentioned learning it from him.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
165	* ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' has one episode where Baby learned one such word, "smoo". (In the dinosaur lingo, this is a dirty word because it describes debris that accumulates on the sole of a dinosaur's foot. It's also a slang term for the vulva.)
166	* ''Series/WimziesHouse'': This is done with the word [[GoshDangItToHeck "stupid"]] with one cent going into [[TheSwearJar a "charity cup"]] each time it's said. Only Wimzie's little brother Bo is exempt because A.) He's only 1 1/2 and B.) He doesn't have any money. See more examples under Western Animation below.
167	[[/folder]]
168
169	[[folder:Video Games]]
170	* ''VideoGame/AlterEgo1986'': During the Childhood chapter, you hear your dad cussing out the lawnmower. You can mimic him, naming your toy lawnmower [[SymbolSwearing $@*%#]].
171	* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': During [[Recap/Destiny2SeasonOfTheSplicer Season of the Splicer]], a House of Light Eliksni (city aligned [[SpacePirates Fallen]]) tries to offer their thanks to a ramen shop owner after trying a bowl. Unfortunately, the word they use is implied to be a vulgar term they heard Petra Venj use to describe [[TheDon the Spider]], which she sarcastically claimed was a compliment. [[spoiler:Things escalate to the point the Eliksni is chased by a lynch-mob out of paranoia and racism, and left to an UncertainDoom]].
172	[[/folder]]
173
174	[[folder:Webcomics]]
175	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has this exchange from Act 6:
176	-->'''GT:''' The last thing i need on my bday is another installment of and i quote manbro bukkake theater.\
177	'''TT:''' You still don't actually know what that means, do you.\
178	'''GT:''' Not really? It's your friggin figure of speech man. I gathered it just meant getting slimed like in Film/{{Ghostbusters\|1984}} or somesuch.\
179	'''TT:''' Kind of. I told you to look it up.\
180	'''GT:''' Yeah yeah. Im a busy fella dirk!
181	* In ''Moon Over June'', little June Akagawa's first words are "cunt", and then "cunt fuck shit" (on one of the few remotely SFW pages in the entire series).
182	* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' has [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1200 a twist on this one.]] After Pintsize tells Hannelore that robot swear words come from mashing on the keyboard, she asks him and Winslow what "qwerty" means. They're shocked.
183	* ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'': In [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/08/09/0189-shows-over/ #189]], Yuna completed her call for the freedom of the people of Burma with the word "motherfuckers". [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/08/12/0190-apology/ After she was told that it's an very offensive swearword, she apologized]].
184	* ''Webcomic/YouDamnKid'':
185	** At one point it recounts an incident with the author's little sister who asked him who Sunsub is and why he itches when something bad happens. Things didn't click for him until at the dinner table when, after his dad tells a story, the sister shouts, "Sunsub itches!" (say it out loud if you haven't figured it out).
186	** And similarly to the ''Film/BlastFromThePast'' example, The Kid wonders what "[[RagingStiffie Sportin' wood" and "Pitchin' a tent"]] mean, and one of the older kids tells him it's when you get excited. Cue his parents asking [[ExactWords if he's excited]] to see a movie, and he blurts out -- "Am I!? I'm sportin' wood!" Cue SpitTake from dad.
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:Web Original]]
190	* Website/YouTube has plenty of examples of toddlers mispronouncing words. For example, "dump truck" becomes "dumbfuck", "vacuum" becomes "fuck you", and "frog" is "fuck". Some adults in the videos exploit this: "Say 'awww, truck'."
191	* Creator/SamAndMickey's ''Dreamhouse Dinners'' episode #3 has Barbie recall that Baby Krissy once attempted to say, "duck", but it sounded more like an F-bomb. [[spoiler:Krissy does this again at the end of the video.]]
192	[[/folder]]
193
194	[[folder:Western Animation]]
195	* ''WesternAnimation/AngeloRules'': In one episode, Angelo swears in the proximity of Peter (who is five years old) after tripping over his toys. Peter hears the word and keeps using it throughout the episode because he thinks it sounds "cool". It becomes less innocent after he tries using the word more to turn people into space monsters (due Angelo's failed attempt at scaring Peter). The trope is inverted as well after Peter uses the word "gastropod" with the intent to swear (which, again, was part of Angelo's plan).
196	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': In "Bleep", DW hears a swear word and wants to know what it means. (She doesn't know at all that it's a swear word.) She accidentally gets her entire preschool class saying it. The Tibble twins tell her it's a hypnosis word, and saying it will make adults follow their orders. While her mother doesn't punish her ''this'' time, she finally tells her that it means that someone wants to hurt your feelings. Satisfied with this answer, D.W. decided to have a talk with her classmates the next day about using swear words.
197	* ''WesternAnimation/BabyLooneyTunes'': In "Who Said That?", Daffy learns a swear word from a passing garbage man. He later tells the other Tunes about it.
198	* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'': Also done on the Creator/PBSKids version of "The Big Blooper" just like in the book as mentioned above in the Literature Section, with Sister Bear and her friend Lizzie using the word "furball" after watching a video that belonged to the latter's brother -- ''[[ShowWithinAShow Trouble at Big Bear High]]''. Apparently this is highly offensive to anthropomorphic bears.
199	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}'': One episode did this with the word "stupid", which Caillou learns when he learns how to ride a skateboard from an older boy. After doing so, he and Leo uses the word at Clementine when she says he didn't actually skateboard by himself, which makes her upset. Caillou doesn't know why the word is bad until his mom gets a call from Clementine's mom saying that he hurt Clementine's feelings when he called her that word as well as hearing Rosie say the word herself.
200	--> '''Doris:''' Caillou? Rosie's been saying a word that's not very nice. Do you know the word I mean?\
201	'''Caillou:''' Yes, Mommy.\
202	'''Doris:''' And Clementine's mommy just called. She was telling me about your afternoon in the park. Apparently, you and Leo weren't very nice to Clementine.\
203	'''Caillou:''' But Leo and I were just playing, Mommy.\
204	'''Doris:''' I don't think that's a very good game to play. You hurt Clementine's feelings.\
205	'''Caillou:''' I didn't mean to.
206	* Seen in a story from the ''Literature/{{Franklin}}'' television series. The word in question? [[GoshDangItToHeck "Stupid"]]. The moral of the episode was that the words you use say a lot about you, and [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools it actually works fairly well]] if you can get past your knee-jerk reaction to the idea of "stupid" as a swear word. (It's credible too, since the writing on the show is monitored carefully for the language they use, and normally they ''don't'' use "stupid").
207	* Implied on the WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} short "Fathers Are People". A photo on Goof Jr.'s baby album marked "Baby's First Word" is of Goofy [[SoapPunishment washing his mouth with soap]].
208	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In "Potty Mouth", the siblings get scared that they accidentally taught their one year old sister how to say "damn it." It turns out Lily was trying to say "donut", but then the dog steals her donut and ''then'' she swears for real. Interestingly, most of the siblings (the second youngest child is ''four'') are all shown cursing without it being depicted as this. They all know exactly how to use the word.
209	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': In "Curses", Bubbles overhears Professor Utonium using a naughty word. She later says it in front of her sisters and they start using it themselves. Many {{Sound Effect Bleep}}s ensue. In a subversion, eventually they do understand it's wrong but at the end of the episode Buttercup openly swears with clear intent, which sees her mouth washed out with soap in the closing sequence.
210	* ''WesternAnimation/RoliePolieOlie'' has the episode "Dingle-Dangle-Doodle". The title ''is'' the bad word in question.
211	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': The episode entitled "Word Of The Day" had Angelica audition for a children's show. While backstage she overheard a DepravedKidsShowHost state, rather sarcastically, that the "real" catchphrase of the show is that the children who watch it "are all little [[SoundEffectBleep (censored by outside noise)]]." Angelica, being three, thinks this is sincere. HilarityEnsues.
212	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
213	** After overhearing Homer one day, Todd Flanders swears twice at the dinner table ("Hell, no!" and "I don't want any damn vegetables."). The humor turns heartbreaking after he is scolded and runs from the room crying, not understanding what he has done wrong.
214	** In a different episode: Moe has turned his tavern into a family restaurant and has worked himself near to the RageBreakingPoint. And then one little girl complains that her soda is too cold, causing Moe to erupt into a sanitized-for-primetime ClusterFBomb, ending with:
215	--->'''Moe:''' And I'll tell you where you can stick your freakin' sodie too!\
216	''[crowd gasps]''\
217	'''Todd Flanders:''' Ow, my freakin' ears!\
218	''[crowd gasps again]''
219	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In the episode "Sailor Mouth", [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick read a bad word (heard as a dolphin chirp) written in a trash bin and start using it. Patrick claims it's a "sentence enhancer". Later Mr. Krabs ends up launching into a whole tirade of every one in the book, which even makes [=SpongeBob=] aghast.
220	* ''Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!'': In an episode aptly titled "The Bad Word", Toto goes around spouting "diga-boo-boo", which is apparently a curse word in this universe, a phrase he learned from a group of mean apes. He ends up alienating everybody, until he finally gets the courage to say sorry.
221	[[/folder]]

Context Main / InnocentSwearing