Euphemism is a literary and figurative device that masks offensive or inappropriate ideas into a more acceptable, polite expression. It comes from the Greek “euphēmismos,” which means "words of good omen," and is available in every society as a palatable way of saying something that would sound harsh and rude in plain terms. Euphemisms help you write problematic ideas and give your work variety. And in this article, we learn how to use them to address sensitive subject matters with classic examples to guide us.

Purpose of Euphemism in Literature

Euphemisms can serve several purposes in writing. You can use it to inform your readers about an offensive subject without coming across as disrespectful or insensitive. It provides you with many ways to say the same thing, which comes in handy when you have to repeat the same idea more than once in your writing. Here, euphemisms can readily help you create variety. 

It gives readers insight into who your characters are. A character who uses euphemisms would come across as sensible and polite. Also, euphemism employs the use of colloquial expressions, so it makes your dialogue natural and fascinating. Also, euphemisms can create a comedic effect in your writing and lighten the mood of an otherwise gloomy or morbid conversation or writing.

How to Create a Euphemism

Society has always used euphemisms to disguise rude opinions or language in a clean, more acceptable way. There are a couple of ways this is done. First, you can form a new word from abbreviations, such as BS, WC, and effing. Second, you can use foreign words that sound better, like faux pas (stupid mistake) and au naturel (naked). 

Third, you can phrase the expression in an indirect, less offensive way, like backside, behind or tail instead of butt or ass. Fourth, you can employ a technical term or longer word, like collateral damage (accidental killing), ethnic cleansing (genocide) and misleading statement (to lie). Fifth, you can use abstractions, like pass away (to die), late (dead), go all the way (have sex), home base (sex), first base (kissing). Last, you can use mispronunciation, like fudge, shoot, darn and heck.

Examples of Euphemism in Fiction 

You can find euphemisms in famous works of fiction from different eras. And here are some examples: 

"No word in the B vocabulary was ideologically neutral. A great many were euphemisms. Such words, for instance, as joycamp (forced-labour camp) or Minipax Ministry of Peace, i. e. Ministry of War meant almost the exact opposite of what they appeared to mean." — 1984 by George Orwell.

"Um, how else can I say it? You’re being let go. Your department’s being downsized. You’re part of an outplacement program. We’re going in a different direction. We’re not picking up your option. Take your pick. I got more." — Kuzco from Disney's The Emperor's New Groove.

"Royal wench! / She made great / Caesar lay his sword to bed. / He plowed her, and she cropped." — Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

"'It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,' the man said. 'It’s not really an operation at all.' The girl looked at the ground the table's legs rested on. 'I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.'" — Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway (The conversation is about having an abortion).