Taboo vs Verboten: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Taboo implies a strong cultural or social prohibition. Verboten suggests a formal, authoritative, or legal ban.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Taboo mean?
noun / adjective · /təˈbuː/
A prohibition against discussing or doing something — a subject, action, or object that is forbidden by social, religious, or cultural convention. Taboos define the limits of the acceptable and mark the boundaries of the community.
Explore TabooTaboo in a sentence
Captain Cook brought the word 'taboo' back from Tonga in 1777 — one of English's genuine borrowings from the Pacific.
Every culture has taboos around death, sex, and food — the body's three great territories.
What does Verboten mean?
adjective · /fɛrˈboʊ.tən/
Strictly forbidden — especially by authority. The German word entered English carrying the particular flavour of German authoritarianism: verboten suggests official, bureaucratic prohibition rather than social taboo.
Explore VerbotenVerboten in a sentence
Discussion of the merger was verboten before the official announcement.
She had a list of verboten topics for family dinners, which meant no politics and no religion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Taboo and Verboten?
Taboo implies a strong cultural or social prohibition. Verboten suggests a formal, authoritative, or legal ban.
What does Taboo mean?
A prohibition against discussing or doing something — a subject, action, or object that is forbidden by social, religious, or cultural convention. Taboos define the limits of the acceptable and mark the boundaries of the community.
What does Verboten mean?
Strictly forbidden — especially by authority. The German word entered English carrying the particular flavour of German authoritarianism: verboten suggests official, bureaucratic prohibition rather than social taboo.