qahpa (قەحپە) (kah-ba)

ˈkaxbainsult, sexual

What does qahpa (قەحپە) (kah-ba) mean? qahpa (قەحپە) (kah-ba) is a Swedish nuclear that translates to “whore / slut” in English.

whore (Arabic/Kurdish loanword)

01

"whore / slut"

Arabic/Kurdish word for prostitute, imported into modern Swedish street slang (Ortenspråk).

Jävla qahpa. (Fucking whore.)

Context

  • Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
  • Only among very close friends who share this register
  • Direct confrontation (use with caution)

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Around elders or authority figures
  • Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
  • Almost any situation — this is as offensive as it gets
  • Mixed company or unfamiliar social groups
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

Extremely prevalent among youth in Swedish suburbs. Spelled variously as kahba, qahpa, keffa. Considered a severe insult to a woman's honor in immigrant communities.

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