whore en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /hoʊ/ non-rhotic, dough-door merger, African-American Vernacular
- /ho(ː)ɚ/ rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
- /hʊɚ/ nonstandard but traditional, several locations
- (Southern-England) audio
- hōr rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
- ho͞or (Early, Modern)
- /hʊə/ nonstandard but traditional, several locations
- /huːr/ (Early, Modern)
- (North-American) audio (North American)
- hōr (Early, Modern)
- /hɔːr/ (Early, Modern)
- /hɔː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- hôr (General-American)
- /hoə/ non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
- hô (Received-Pronunciation)
- /hɔɚ/ (General-American)
- ho͝or nonstandard but traditional, several locations
Etymology
From Middle English hore, from Old English hōre, from Proto-Germanic *hōrǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ros (“loved”), from *keh₂- (“to wish; desire”). Cognate with Dutch hoer, German Hure, Old Norse hóra as well as Sanskrit चारु (cā́ru, “dear”), Latin cārus (“dear, expensive”), and Irish cara (“friend”). The unetymological spelling with wh- superficially denotes a formerly standard pronunciation with an excrescent /w/ (such as in whole), but such a form is hardly found in either commentators on Early Modern English pronunciations or records of traditional dialects (which both explicitly mention its rarity or absence), therefore leaving the spelling somewhat inexplicable. However, this may be because such an excrescent /w/ was absorbed by a following /uː/ (as in words with etymological /w/ such as whom, two) after it became established in the spelling but before our earliest orthoepic records.
Meanings
-
(derogatory, vulgar) Synonym of prostitute: a person (especially a woman) who offers sexual services for payment.
I come looking for a job But I get no offers Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
1969, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, “The Boxer”, Bridge over Troubled Water, Columbia RecordsThe merciless Macdonald – worthy to be a rebel, for that the multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him – from the Western Isles of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied, and fortune on his damned quarrel smiling showed like a rebel's whore.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
-
(derogatory, vulgar) A person who is sexually promiscuous; a slut.
He cals her on a ſudden, all to naught; ſhe is a ſtrumpet, a light huswife, a bitch, an arrant whore.
1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Symptomes of Iealousie, Fear, Sorrow, Suspition, Strange Actions, Gestures, Outrages, Locking Up, Oathes, Trials, Lawes, &c.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 3, member 2, subsection 1, page 610:So after he fucks the shit out of me, he tells me I'm lying about his whore not being Brad.
2004, Dennis Cooper, The Sluts, page 250:
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(derogatory, vulgar) A person who is unscrupulous, especially one who compromises their principles for gain.
You're smart. They're all whores.
1980, Paul Schrader, American Gigolo, spoken by Mrs. Laudner (Frances Bergen):Dude: Since when did you become a political whore? Phil: I prefer the term political slut, thank you very much!
2004 February 12, Bayard Russell, nonemorecomic:
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(derogatory, vulgar) A person who will violate behavioral standards to achieve something desired.
a shameless hack—such a whore for the money—that he wouldn't even lend his name to his creations.
1997, John Irving, A Son of the Circus:Vidal is at once more detached and more preoccupied with his own view, celebrating an aristocracy of sensibility constantly thwarted and ignored by those mere whores after fame, the statesmen and politicians.
1982, Daniel Hoffman with Leo Braudy, Harvard guide to contemporary American writing:I don't want to be a media whore," says Babydol. "I don't need to 'sell' my record — it will sell because it's good or won't if it's not
1999 October, Los Angeles Magazine, volume 44, number 10, page 186:By that time, Tejeda had already been accused of beating his wife, abandoning his children, living in sin with another woman, being a whore for the insurance lobby, and accepting bribes.
1990 June, Mother Jones Magazine, volume 15, number 4, page 9:
-
(derogatory, vulgar) A contemptible person.
"Begone," Clare shouted. She could not bring herself to kill in cold blood. "Begone, or I'll shoot." "Idiot whore," he shouted back. "You would not dare."
1999 August, Rod Garcia y Robertson, “Strongbow”, in Fantasy & Science Fiction, volume 97, number 2, page 4:Saxon curses rang in her ears. Dane, they yelled, Viking whore. We will have revenge on you.
2003, Helen Kirkman, A moment's madness:I don't need that Lamont Cranston to tell me. Every Irishman knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. We've known since the time of that rotten ould whore, Elizabeth the Bloody First!
2000 Spring, Pete Hamill, “The Fenian Ram”, in World of Hibernia, volume 5, number 4, page 72:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| wh@re | alternative | lexicographic | |
| ho | alternative, derogatory, slang | lexicographic | |
| whores | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| hoe | alternative, derogatory, slang | lexicographic | |
| wh*re | alternative | lexicographic | |
| whoore | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
rock whore · whorefucker · whoremonger · whoremaster · manwhore · whorror · whoreling · sweat like a whore in church · roadwhore · Bangawhore · whore mouth · spoilerwhore · whorification · media whore · slore · whore's egg · graphics whore · whorelet · ho · whoreman · coke whore · as demure as a whore at a christening · whorendous · whorage · link whore · hedge whore · whoredom · pisswhore · homowhore · whorelike · whorey · bottle whore · whorely · Madonna-whore complex · bitchwhore · whorephobic · Jack whore · demure as a whore at a christening · whoremistress · whorehound · postwhore · whoreship · crack whore · attention whore · whore's eyes · Tim Whoreton's · whore-fucking · noodlewhore · whorish · camwhore · whoreshit · whore's paint · whoreless · kinderwhore · whorer · whorehouse · currywhore · whorenalist · loot whore · fame whore · whorephobia · outwhore · whore bath · bewhore · whoresome · Whore of Babylon · karma whore · cute hoor · asswhore · credit whore · dope whore · cuntwhore · he-whore · stat whore · cumwhore · bar whore · Four Floors of Whores · cockwhore · whorebug · trendwhore · son of a whore · whoreson · slutwhore · cyberwhore · achievement whore · nervous as a whore in church
Synonyms
Translations (371)
gl bordiona (prostitute) · fr putain (prostitute) · ko 갈보 (sexually promiscuous person) · bg курва (sexually promiscuous person) · oc bagassa (prostitute) · fi horatsu (sexually promiscuous person) · ru де́вка (sexually promiscuous person) · fi prostituoitu (prostitute) · fo hora (sexually promiscuous person) · ru ненаёба (sexually promiscuous person) · nn hore (sexually promiscuous person) · gcf zòtòbré (prostitute) · enm hore (prostitute) · be ку́рва (prostitute) · sk cundra (prostitute) · no ludder (sexually promiscuous person) · cs kurva (prostitute) · gd siùrsach (prostitute) · eo publikulino (prostitute) · gd sgliùrach (prostitute) · gd reipseach (prostitute) · gd strìopach (prostitute) · pt rameira (prostitute) · ga striapach (sexually promiscuous person) · fi lutka (sexually promiscuous person) · hy բոզ (prostitute) · pt vadia (sexually promiscuous person) · tr fahişe (prostitute) · la scortillum (prostitute) · fo hora (prostitute) · cmn 騷貨 /骚货 (sexually promiscuous person) · ar قَحْبَة (prostitute) · sq horrë (prostitute) · ru потаску́ха (sexually promiscuous person) · kk жезөкше (prostitute) · sq lavire (prostitute) · mi kairau (prostitute) · hsb kurwa (prostitute) · nan-hbl 娼婊 (prostitute) · be шлю́ндра (prostitute) · ja 浮気女 (sexually promiscuous person) · yi זונה (prostitute) · nan-hbl 娼仔 (prostitute) · tg фоҳиша (prostitute) · et hoor (prostitute) · uk шльо́ндра (prostitute) · cs šlapka (prostitute) · lad putana (prostitute) · ro prostituată (prostitute) · gd siùrsach (sexually promiscuous person) · uk блудни́ця (prostitute) · nl hoer (prostitute) · dsb hura (prostitute) · gcf piten (prostitute) · cy hwren (prostitute) · fa فاحشه (prostitute) · ro secătură (unscrupulous person) · ru блядь (prostitute) · sl kurba (prostitute) · jam sketel (sexually promiscuous person) · km ស្រីខូច (prostitute) · it battona (sexually promiscuous person) · ja させ子 (prostitute) · gl celenca (prostitute) · bg блудни́ца (prostitute) · hi रंडी (sexually promiscuous person) · sl prostitutka (prostitute) · es lumi (prostitute) · id sundal (prostitute) · gcf manawa (prostitute) · sv luder (prostitute) · nrf putain (prostitute) · jam leggo beast (sexually promiscuous person) · gcf bòbò (prostitute) · fr saloparde (unscrupulous person) · kk зинақор әйел (sexually promiscuous person) · got 𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌺𐌾𐍉𐌼 (prostitute) · ca barjaula (prostitute) · nl slet (sexually promiscuous person) · eo prostituitino (prostitute) · fr garce (prostitute) · ur رنڈی (prostitute) · pl szmata (prostitute) · ceb burikat (prostitute) · ru побляду́нья (sexually promiscuous person) · es zorra (prostitute) · nrf chèrch'rêsse (prostitute) · az qəhbə (prostitute) · lo ກາລີ (prostitute) · fi lumppu (sexually promiscuous person) · fi horo (sexually promiscuous person) · gcf matabwa (prostitute) · ja 売春婦 (prostitute) · lt kekšė (prostitute) · grc πόρνη (prostitute) · gd slapag (sexually promiscuous person) · ru гад (unscrupulous person) · enm hore (sexually promiscuous person) · uk шльо́ндра (sexually promiscuous person) · be прасталы́тка (prostitute) · nan-hbl 妓女 (prostitute) · ar زَانِيَّة (prostitute) · my အပြာမယ် (prostitute) · ru шлю́ха (prostitute) · ia puta (prostitute) · mn янхан (prostitute) · yi קורווע (sexually promiscuous person) · ar شَرْمُوطَة (sexually promiscuous person) · ru ку́рва (prostitute) · ru га́дина (unscrupulous person) · it zoccola (prostitute) · ro cutră (unscrupulous person) · la spintria (prostitute) · ceb burikat (sexually promiscuous person) · it squillo (prostitute) · gl beldro (prostitute) · ru блядь (unscrupulous person) · ext puta (prostitute) · ru курве́ц (unscrupulous person) · lb Houer (prostitute) · my ပြည့်တန်ဆာ (prostitute) · orv курва (prostitute) · ur ویشیا (prostitute) · nb hore (prostitute) · ja 娼婦 (prostitute) · te లంజ (sexually promiscuous person) · ja 売女 (prostitute) · eo putino (sexually promiscuous person) · es ramera (prostitute) · ug جالاپ (prostitute) · sa रूपाजीवा (prostitute) · ky жалап (prostitute) · ms pelacur (prostitute) · bal چلنڈ (prostitute) · hy պոռնիկ (prostitute) · hy քած (prostitute) · ga striapach (prostitute) · hy տվող (sexually promiscuous person) · pt meretriz (prostitute) · da ludder (sexually promiscuous person) · ru су́ка (unscrupulous person) · lad zona (prostitute) · my ဇိမ်မယ် (prostitute) · it puttana (sexually promiscuous person) · kn ಸೂಳೆ (prostitute) · da ludder (prostitute) · it baldracca (sexually promiscuous person) · ko 잡년 (prostitute) · el πουτάνα (prostitute) · ru шлю́ха (sexually promiscuous person) · nan-hbl 婊子 (prostitute) · sk kurva (prostitute) · it troia (prostitute) · id placur (prostitute) · ga meirdreach (sexually promiscuous person) · ca bagassa (prostitute) · ka როსკიპი (prostitute) · es fulana (prostitute) · cmn 婊子 (prostitute) · wa putain (prostitute) · ta விபச்சாரி (prostitute) · non hóra (prostitute) · gl maturranga (prostitute) · bg кучка (sexually promiscuous person) · pt devassa (sexually promiscuous person) · br gast (prostitute) · grc πόρνος (prostitute) · ps کاسيره (prostitute) · it battona (prostitute) · gl coirón (prostitute) · uk ку́рва (sexually promiscuous person) · fr salopard (unscrupulous person) · kk жәлеп (prostitute) · ca prostituta (prostitute) · sq prostitutë (prostitute) · uk блудни́ця (sexually promiscuous person) · id perek (prostitute) · fa جنده (prostitute) · sv hora (prostitute) · gd strìopach (sexually promiscuous person) · id lonte (sexually promiscuous person) · vi gái điếm (prostitute) · gl candonga (prostitute) · da skøge (prostitute) · mt qaħba (prostitute) · ps فاحشه (prostitute) · la meretrix (prostitute) · fr putain (unscrupulous person) · pt garota de programa (prostitute) · yi קורווע (prostitute) · it sgualdrina (sexually promiscuous person) · jv sundel (prostitute) · ro târfă (prostitute) · bg ку́рва (prostitute) · es golfa (prostitute) · sv slampa (sexually promiscuous person) · it baldracca (prostitute) · pt puta (prostitute) · yi הור (prostitute) · ru шала́ва (sexually promiscuous person) · lv mauka (prostitute) · af hoer (sexually promiscuous person) · pl dziwka (prostitute) · no tøs (sexually promiscuous person) · cy putain (prostitute) · sh kȗrva (prostitute) · lv ielene (prostitute) · he שַׁרְמוּטָה (sexually promiscuous person) · ja やりまん (sexually promiscuous person) · yi שליוכע (prostitute) · ia puta (sexually promiscuous person) · la lupa (prostitute) · hi वेश्या (sexually promiscuous person) · la scortum (prostitute) · da hore (prostitute) · bn বেশ্যা (prostitute) · ru подсти́лка (sexually promiscuous person) · cy gast (prostitute) · hi वेश्या (prostitute) · yi זונה (sexually promiscuous person) · tk jelep (prostitute) · nl hoer (sexually promiscuous person) · gd luid (sexually promiscuous person) · it mignotta (sexually promiscuous person) · it troia (sexually promiscuous person) · nv kiyąąh sizíní (prostitute) · hu kurva (prostitute) · oc prostituida (prostitute) · pt periguete (sexually promiscuous person) · it peripatetica (prostitute) · pap puta (prostitute) · ko 갈보 (prostitute) · he זוֹנָה (prostitute) · pt prostituta (prostitute) · mn садар эм (prostitute) · cs nevěstka (prostitute) · gl bagaxa (prostitute) · srn huru (prostitute) · pl prostytutka (prostitute) · cmn 蕩婦 /荡妇 (sexually promiscuous person) · nv ałjiłnii (sexually promiscuous person) · be шлю́ха (prostitute) · az fahişə (prostitute) · fi huora (prostitute) · ro curvă (prostitute) · id cabo (prostitute) · sk pobehlica (prostitute) · eo viringo (sexually promiscuous person) · uk ку́рва (prostitute) · ru ля́рва (sexually promiscuous person) · ang myltestre (prostitute) · id perek (sexually promiscuous person) · da prostitueret (prostitute) · ja 痴女 (sexually promiscuous person) · gcf madigwann (prostitute) · de Dirne (prostitute) · fr cocotte (prostitute) · it zoccola (sexually promiscuous person) · ro cocotă (prostitute) · is hóra (prostitute) · oc puta (prostitute) · el πουτάνα (sexually promiscuous person) · ka ბოზი (prostitute) · fur putane (prostitute) · id lonte (prostitute) · es guarra (prostitute) · da hore (sexually promiscuous person) · fo skøkja (prostitute) · af hoer (prostitute) · cs běhna (prostitute) · se fuorrá (prostitute) · uk проститу́тка (prostitute) · ru говное́д (unscrupulous person) · nl hoertje (sexually promiscuous person) · he שַׁרְלִילָה (sexually promiscuous person) · fr salope (sexually promiscuous person) · sh ку̑рва (prostitute) · es puta (prostitute) · ru прода́жная де́вка (sexually promiscuous person) · de Nutte (prostitute) · eo ĉiesulino (prostitute) · bg проститу́тка (prostitute) · es mujerzuela (prostitute) · hu prosti (prostitute) · ja パンスケ (prostitute) · uk ля́рва (sexually promiscuous person) · de Hure (prostitute) · de Schlampe (prostitute) · it mignotta (prostitute) · ja 街娼 (prostitute) · pl kurwa (prostitute) · ru побляду́шка (sexually promiscuous person) · gd reipseach (sexually promiscuous person) · ca puta (prostitute) · ru блудни́ца (sexually promiscuous person) · bal کهبگ (prostitute) · gd leodag (sexually promiscuous person) · uk пові́я (prostitute) · nan-hbl 娼妓 (prostitute) · pdt Hua (prostitute) · it squillo (sexually promiscuous person) · fa جنده (sexually promiscuous person) · eo stratulino (prostitute) · nn hore (prostitute) · cmn 娼妓 (prostitute) · ko 논다니 (prostitute) · vi đĩ (prostitute) · ru дава́лка (sexually promiscuous person) · yi שליוכע (sexually promiscuous person) · ja 売女 (sexually promiscuous person) · fi huora (sexually promiscuous person) · it puttana (prostitute) · la nonaria (prostitute) · lo ເພດສຍາ (prostitute) · jam loose gyal (sexually promiscuous person) · ml വേശ്യ (prostitute) · fr morue (prostitute) · eo amoristino (prostitute) · fr pute (prostitute) · mk курва (prostitute) · lo ໂສເພນີ (prostitute) · prg manga (prostitute) · nan-hbl 婊仔 (prostitute) · es prostituta (prostitute) · it sgualdrina (prostitute) · th โสเภณี (prostitute) · te లంజ (prostitute) · gl baldreu (prostitute) · sw malaya (prostitute) · nb hore (sexually promiscuous person) · be прастыту́тка (prostitute) · ru блядь (sexually promiscuous person) · se roahcu (sexually promiscuous person) · ko 잡년 (sexually promiscuous person) · ang hore (prostitute) · fr roulure (prostitute) · hi रंडी (prostitute) · jv lonthé (prostitute) · ru проститу́тка (prostitute) · ug پاھىشە (prostitute) · he שַׁרְמוּטָה (prostitute) · sq kurvë (prostitute) · cs děvka (prostitute) · tr orospu (prostitute) · cmn 鷄 /鸡 (prostitute) · ro curvă (sexually promiscuous person) · ru ку́рва (sexually promiscuous person) · lo ເວສິຍາ (prostitute) · id pelacur (prostitute) · eo ĉiesulino (sexually promiscuous person) · th แพศยา (prostitute) · uz fohisha (prostitute) · eo putino (prostitute) · ko 매춘부 (prostitute) · bg у́личница (prostitute) · ast puta (prostitute) · ga meirdreach (prostitute) · ko 걸레 (sexually promiscuous person) · it peripatetica (sexually promiscuous person) · uz buzuq (prostitute) · cmn 妓女 (prostitute) · gl pelexo (prostitute) · ka მეძავი (prostitute) · gd leodag (prostitute) · el πόρνη (prostitute) · mt prostituta (prostitute) · ar عَاهِرَة (prostitute) · sw kahaba (prostitute) · gd sgliùrach (sexually promiscuous person) · ps کنچنۍ (prostitute) · da luder (prostitute)