Definition
Nonsensical or insincere talk intended to deceive or impress; meaningless rhetoric. Often used as a vulgar expression of disbelief or frustration.
Etymology
Compound of 'bull' (meaning nonsense, from earlier 'bull' meaning a ludicrous blunder) and 'shit' (excrement). The term emerged in early 20th century American slang, popularized by philosopher Harry Frankfurt's academic treatise 'On Bullshit' (2005).
Kelly Says
Frankfurt distinguished bullshit from lies by arguing that liars care about truth (they just want to hide it), while bullshitters have no regard for truth at all - they're simply trying to accomplish something regardless of accuracy. This makes bullshit potentially more dangerous than outright deception!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አስተያየት
ahs-teh-yah-yet
CACatalà
xerrameca
shay-rah-MEH-kah
CSČeština
brekeke
BREH-keh-keh
ELΕλληνικά
ανοησίες
ah-noh-ee-SEE-ehs
ESEspañol
tonterías
tohn-teh-REE-ahs
FAفارسی
خزعبلات
khaz-ab-laat
FISuomi
höpötin
hoh-peh-tin
FRFrançais
conneries
koh-neh-REE
HUMagyar
badarság
bah-dar-shahg
IDBahasa Indonesia
omong kosong
oh-mohng koh-sohng
IGIG
ọdịnkpọ
oh-deen-kpoh
ITItaliano
stronzate
strohn-ZAH-teh
JA日本語
馬鹿馬鹿しい
baka baka shii
KKKK
әмсіз сөз
ahm-SEEZ sohz
KMKM
ពាក្យល្ងង់
pea-kyah-lngong
MSBahasa Melayu
omong kosong
oh-mohng koh-sohng
MYမြန်မာ
အမှားစကား
ah-mhar-sah-kar
NLNederlands
onzin
ohn-zin
PLPolski
bzdury
bz-DOO-ree
PTPortuguês
bobagem
boh-bah-ZHEHM
RORomână
tâmpene
tahm-PEH-neh
SVSvenska
skitsnack
SHEET-snack
SWKiswahili
uongo
oo-oh-NGOH
TEతెలుగు
అబద్ధాలు
abaddhalu
THไทย
เรื่องไร้สาระ
reuang rai sa-ra
TLTL
kabulaanan
kah-boo-LAH-nahn
TRTürkçe
saçmalık
sahch-MAH-leek
UKУкраїнська
дурниці
door-NEE-tsyah
VITiếng Việt
vô nghĩa
voh nghia
YOYO
ìròyìn òkò
ee-ROH-yin OH-koh
ZUZU
ukudlwengula
oo-koo-dloo-NGOO-lah