damns

Damns is most commonly encountered as the third-person singular present tense form of the verb to damn (he damns, she damns, it damns). It can also appear in quoted speech as part of the interjection or as the base for related forms, such as damning. The word is frequently used as an interjection to express anger, frustration, surprise, or emphasis: Damn! The plural form is grammatically a single verb tense rather than a plural noun, so damns is not usually treated as a standalone plural.

Etymology and sense have roots in the Latin damnare, meaning to condemn, which entered English through Old French damner and Middle English. Originally the term carried a religious sense of condemnation to damnation, later broadening into a general curse or expletive in secular usage. In religious contexts, “the damned” refers to those condemned to hell, a sense distinct from the verb form but closely related historically.

Usage and tone vary by region and context. In everyday speech, damn is considered a strong or vulgar word in many English-speaking communities, though its intensity has softened in some modern contexts. It is often censored or softened in formal writing and broadcast media, with milder substitutes like darn or dang common in casual speech. The word remains a staple of informal expression and literature, where its impact and theological undertones are sometimes explored or satirized.

See also: profanity in English, blasphemy, substitutions for vulgar language.