Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[christina_nguyen]

Hello

I don't quite get the differences between these words: IMPERTINENT, IMPUDENT, INSOLENT, and SAUCY.

Could you please please please give some situations where the appropriate word should be used?

Thanks.......I really appreciate your help!

[manifold]

someone who is impertinent is rude and showing no respect for someone in authority, especially by saying things or asking questions that you should not

someone who is impudent, especially a child or young person, is rude and has no respect for people who are older or more important

someone who is insolent is rude to someone in authority and appearing to have no respect for them, especially by not doing what they tell you to do.

we speak of saucy jokes, stories, songs etc that are slightly rude but also rather amusing

I picked these meanings from the Longman Language Activator Dictionary, which is one of the best tools to learn active vocabulary. There you find even the slightest differences between and advice on proper use of most of the words you come across in colloquial English. Tons of examples make it even more "user-friendly".
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[CP]

In the U.S.A., "saucy" has an additional meaning. We call a child who talks back to adults "saucy," but we pronouce it (and often spell it) "sassy." A sassy child sasses his or her parents, gives them sass -- so we have the adjective, the verb, and the noun for talking back to adults.

The sass is usually impudent, of course, and the element of amusement, mentioned by manifold for "saucy," can also creep in. If you've ever seen a little tot telling off someone older, you may have found it too cute or funny for words.
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