Coprolalia
/ˌkɒprəˈleɪliə/noun
The involuntary utterance of obscene or socially inappropriate words, especially as a symptom of some neurological conditions.
Did you know?Although popularly associated with Tourette syndrome, coprolalia occurs in only a minority of people with Tourette syndrome.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόπρος (kópros)
“Dung or animal excrement”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λαλεῖν (laleîn)
“To talk, chatter, or utter words”
19th Century
Medical Greek
coprolalia
“A clinical term formed from kópros, “dung,” and laleîn, “to speak””
Modern English
English
coprolalia
“Involuntary use of obscene or inappropriate language, particularly in a neurological context”
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