Dictionary

uncouth en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• audio
• /ʌnˈkuːθ/

Etymology

From Middle English uncouth, from Old English uncūþ (“unknown; unfamiliar; strange”), from Proto-West Germanic *unkunþ, from Proto-Germanic *unkunþaz (“unknown”), equivalent to un- + couth. The modern pronunciation does not show /aʊ/, the usual development of the Middle English vowel from the Great Vowel Shift. It is usually explained as a pronunciation taken from Northern English dialects, which did not undergo the diphthongization of the vowel.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Unfamiliar, strange, foreign.
   • The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep Affects me equally; nor can I like This uncouth' dream, of evil sprung I fear […] 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • There was a delicious sensation of mingled security and awe with which I looked down, from my giddy height, on the monsters of the deep at their uncouth gambols. 1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Voyage”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 14:
   • If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi], lines 882-94:
2. Clumsy, awkward.
3. Unrefined, crude.
   • “I don’t think it’s uncouth to talk about it. I think it’s a reality that has to inform the urgency with which we approach those issues.” 2021 May 10, Ian Prasad Philbrick, quoting Brian Fallon, “‘We May Not Have a Full Two Years’: Democrats’ Plans Hinge on Good Health”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • I don't want to associate with uncouth people.
   • If Yule found it delightful, why did Kipling find it uncouth? 2014, James Lambert, “A Much Tortured Expression: A New Look At `Hobson-Jobson'”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 27, number 1, page 58:
   • Harsh words, though pertinent, uncouth appear: / None please the fancy, who offend the ear. 1699, Samuel Garth, The Dispensary, Canto IV, line 204:

Forms

Antonyms

couth · couth

Deriveds

unco · uncouthly · uncouthness

Synonyms

churlish · fremd · uncivilized · fremd · bizarre · errant · hinky · uncommon · quaint · queer as a clockwork orange · as queer as Dick's hatband · bumptious · queer as a three dollar bill · aweless · improper · alien · freak · irregular · unreasonable · yampy · uncouth · eldritch · incongruous · uncultured · rough · incongruitous · unusual · impolite · bad-mannered · unpolite · strange · exceptional · uncanny · ill-mannered · deviant · unwonted · lack-grace · freaky · anomalous · unmannerly · unconventional · forby · abnormal · nonstandard · unearthly · uncivil · freakish · insolent · bold · unrefined · extraordinary · incivil · selcouth · inept · alien · impudent · barbaric · trippy · weirdsome · uncanny · queer as a coot · kooky · rum · rare · odd · out of the ordinary · uncivil · unexpected · discourteous · seld · peculiar · eerie · weird · rantipole · churlish · heteroclite · rude · gauche · queer · uncouth · funny · uncourteous · queer as a nine bob note · singular · discrepant · weird · monstrous · outlandish · crude · underbred · bumptious · queer as Dick's hatband · bumbling · aberrant · mismannered · rummy · curious · outré · unpolished · ill-bred · booky · fey

Translations (118)

mk не́смасен (clumsy, awkward) · gl brután (clumsy, awkward) · ota بیاغی (unrefined, crude) · bg груб (unrefined, crude) · cs neotesaný (unrefined, crude) · grc βάναυσος (unrefined, crude) · it strano (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · mi pakirara (unrefined, crude) · fi outo (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl alarbe (clumsy, awkward) · no keitete (clumsy, awkward) · pt esquisito (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl forasteiro (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ga aibéiseach (unrefined, crude) · it squasinodeo (unrefined, crude) · it grezzo (unrefined, crude) · gl tarosco (clumsy, awkward) · no underlig (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ga tútach (unrefined, crude) · ga amhlánta (unrefined, crude) · mi tūhourangi (unrefined, crude) · gl tougallo (clumsy, awkward) · fr rustre (unrefined, crude) · mk нео́бичен (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl estrano (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl alleo (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · bg странен (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ar فَظّ (unrefined, crude) · el άξεστος (unrefined, crude) · cs neslušný (unrefined, crude) · gl farouteiro (clumsy, awkward) · fi vieras (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · la horridus (unrefined, crude) · oc ruste (unrefined, crude) · ga amhchaoin (unrefined, crude) · pt bruto (unrefined, crude) · gl estraio (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ru необы́чный (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl alarbio (clumsy, awkward) · de fremd (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · fi hienostumaton (unrefined, crude) · es basto (unrefined, crude) · fi epähieno (unrefined, crude) · de grobschlächtig (unrefined, crude) · bg непохватен (clumsy, awkward) · pdt onbeschläpen (unrefined, crude) · de schwerfällig (clumsy, awkward) · fi karkea (unrefined, crude) · es rústico (unrefined, crude) · oc brut (unrefined, crude) · es torpe (clumsy, awkward) · gl baldroqueiro (clumsy, awkward) · fr étranger (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ru гру́бый (unrefined, crude) · gl teirugo (clumsy, awkward) · hu faragatlan (unrefined, crude) · gl baldrocas (clumsy, awkward) · sv ofin (unrefined, crude) · no ukultivert (unrefined, crude) · mk су́ров (unrefined, crude) · es bruto (clumsy, awkward) · pt desajeitado (clumsy, awkward) · gl bascallo (clumsy, awkward) · pt estranho (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · ru неуклю́жий (clumsy, awkward) · gl buzaco (clumsy, awkward) · de tölpelhaft (clumsy, awkward) · fi tahditon (unrefined, crude) · ga tútach (clumsy, awkward) · oc estranh (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · de tumb (unrefined, crude) · es zafio (unrefined, crude) · bg нешлифован (unrefined, crude) · hu csiszolatlan (unrefined, crude) · es grosero (unrefined, crude) · de fremdartig (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · mi mohowao (unrefined, crude) · it goffo (clumsy, awkward) · oc grossièr (unrefined, crude) · hi अशिष्ट (unrefined, crude) · bg недодялан (clumsy, awkward) · cmn 粗野的 (unrefined, crude) · no klossete (clumsy, awkward) · ru неотёсанный (unrefined, crude) · ru нело́вкий (clumsy, awkward) · sv ohyfsad (unrefined, crude) · da underlig (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · mk груб (unrefined, crude) · cs hrubý (unrefined, crude) · ru неповоро́тливый (clumsy, awkward) · fi hiomaton (unrefined, crude) · hi असभ्य (unrefined, crude) · gd gràisgeil (unrefined, crude) · gl estanio (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl bestello (clumsy, awkward) · gl xounón (clumsy, awkward) · ota یوغون (unrefined, crude) · de ungeschickt (clumsy, awkward) · es extraño (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · cs obhroublý (unrefined, crude) · fi tökerö (unrefined, crude) · cmn 陌生的 (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · de sonderbar (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · mi mohoao (unrefined, crude) · es bravío (unrefined, crude) · hy բռի (unrefined, crude) · it grossolano (unrefined, crude) · fi raaka (unrefined, crude) · fi kömpelö (clumsy, awkward) · es garrulo (unrefined, crude) · es chocarrero (unrefined, crude) · pdt bollboarich (unrefined, crude) · sv underlig (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · gl foraño (unfamiliar, strange, foreign) · cs neomalený (unrefined, crude) · gl baldragas (clumsy, awkward) · it rozzo (unrefined, crude) · sv ohövlig (unrefined, crude)