Damn dang darn durn
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English
Note
This page collects information about the various combinations of god/gol/gosh and damn/dang/darn/durn, possibly further combined with -ed or it.
Etymology
dang, darn and durn are all euphemistic pronunciations of damn. gol and gosh are euphemistic pronunciations of god
Pronuncation and Spelling
The n in damn is never pronounced, even in forms such as damned and damnit (but see damnation and damnable). For this reason, damnit and associated forms are also spelled dammit etc. The two forms are equally common.
Note that damned must be spelled with an n, as dammed is simply the past tense of dam.
Usage Note
The various forms listed here may be used interchangeably, except that damn is generally considered more impolite. Darn is the most common euphemism, with dang and durn as regional variants. Just as damn is combined with god for extra emphasis to get goddammn and goddamned, the euphemisms combine with the euphemistic forms gol or gosh. Any of the six possible combinations is heard, though goshdarn may be more common than goldarn and goldurn more common than goshdurn.
Intensifier
damn, damned, goddamn, goddamned
dang, danged, goldang, goldanged, goshdang, goshdanged
darn, darned, goldarn, goldarned, goshdarn, goshdarned
durn, durned, goldurn, goldurned, goshdurn, goshdurned
- Generally used to express annoyance or impatience concerning the modified word.
- Give me the goldang phone already!
- Do you have to be so damned stubborn?
Usage Note
Grammatically this form is a past participle acting as a modifier, but the final -ed is often dropped, so any of damn, damned, dang, danged, durn or durned could be heard (or goddamn, goddamned, goshdarn, goshdarned etc.).
Transitive verb
(only used in imperative)
damn, goddamn
dang, goldang, goshdang
darn, goldarn, goshdarn
durn, goldurn, goshdurn
- Expresses intense disapproval of the object.
- Damn you for doing that!
Usage Note
Given its original meaning, damn may also be used with hell as in Damn you to hell for doing that!. One occasionally hears constructions such as darn you to heck, but these are only for humorous effect. The euphemisms do not retain the theological meanings of the original.
Interjection
damn, dammit, damnit, goddamn, goddammit, goddamnit
dang, dangit, goldang, goldangit, goshdang, goshdangit
darn, darnit, goldarn, goldarnit, goshdarn, goshdarnit
durn, durnit, goldurn, goldurnit, goshdurn, goshdurnit
- Expresses surprise or generally adds emphasis.
- Durn! I thought I was going to win that game!
- Durnit! I thought I was going to win that game!
Usage Note
As with damned/damn above, the original form (damn it) is often contracted, and either form may be heard. As always, damn can combine with god (goddamn, goddamnit or goddammit) and the euphemisms can combine with gol or gosh (goshdarnit, goldurnit, etc.).
Noun
damn, goddamn
dang, goldang, goshdang
darn, goldarn, goshdarn
durn, goldurn, goshdurn
- Even a little bit. Often used in the stock phrase give a damn etc.
- It really doesn't matter a damn what you think.
Usage Note
The compound terms are more rarely used. Some, namely goshdang and goldurn, may not be used in this sense at all.
