uncouth
Say it: un-KOOTH /ʌnˈkuːθ/ · adjective
What “uncouth” means
Rude and badly mannered.
More precisely: Lacking good manners or refinement.
Example: “Talking loudly on speakerphone on the train is considered pretty uncouth.”
When to use it
A disapproving, slightly formal word for behaviour that seems coarse, badly mannered or out of place in polite company.
Similar words
crude, boorish, unrefined
Where it comes from
From Old English uncūth, 'unknown'; it later came to mean 'strange', then 'unrefined'.
Quick check
A visitor puts muddy boots on the dining table and chews noisily with his mouth open. His manners are…
uncouth or informal?
Show the answer
uncouth
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