"That time of the month"?!

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Why do people call periods "that time of the month" or "my monthly" etc? Why can't they just say "I'm on my period", that's what I say to people.

It's because society expects women to be discreet.

And because it's awkward to say that.

its a polite euphemism-people when they talk about sensitive things tend to do that-probably it conjures up mental images people are uncomfortable with so they use the more polite term for it,-with guys it can be just as bad when describing different things guys do.

it's called FULL STOP

Because certain things, including bodily functions (especially those involving, for example, blood) are inherently disgusting. We use euphemisms for them just like with:

* Urination and defecation "No. 1 and No. 2"

* Death "Passing away"

* Sex "Making love," "Quality time" (in many cases), "Sleeping together," etc., etc., etc.

We even have euphemisms for things like getting fired "Excused," "Let go," "Given the sack," divorced/dumped "She walked out on him," lying "fibbing" (used generally when accusing someone else of doing it) and riots "demonstrations" among other things.

(George Carlin did some great material on euphemisms.)

That's life. We use generally understood nicer ways to describe certain nasty realities. We expect the other person to know what we're referring to, but they like it if we say it a bit differently.

Don't remind me.

Because everything with women has to be sunshine and candy. If men bled out their dicks once a month, you wouldn't hear any cute euphemisms about it.

Thanks for the replies. I just tell everyone "I'm on my period". Who shouldn't I say that to and who is it alright to say to?

yeah my friend says things like her ''aunt is visiting'' or she '' smells the roses this week.''... and im like 'eh ,what?...*pause*...oh...''

There's nothing wrong with saying 'I have my period' as there's no shame in menstruating.
It's not so great to scream it in the middle of the supermarket, but otherwise should it come up tell whoever needs to know.

I personally say I'm having my period, 'my girly time' as a pet name for it with my boyfriend, or I like 'I'm having my euphemism'

The reason people use silly euphemisms is because of social taboos surrounding menstruation and women's bodies in general, it is viewed as something gross, unmentionable and embarrassing - it's the same as referring to your vagina/vulva as 'down there' or 'p****'.

Being a menstrual activist I should really be able to link to some sort of site (or suggest a book on the subject, there's plenty of them) discussing the cultural explanations and ramifications of using such euphemisms and why they're so harmful, but unless you want to get into a whole history/sociology/biology lesson it's best to just say that people use euphemisms for things they're uncomfortable with, but there's no reason to be uncomfortable with your body.

And on the subject of gross and silly euphemisms; Words and expressions for menstruation around the world

I just checked the site giving the euphemisms for menstrual bleeding all over the world. There is a Polish section too. I think we rather don't have any special words for it - we do call it miesiączka - monthly or, which is much more common - okres - period But I wouldn't call those euphemisms - maybe the remark on the visiting aunt could be described as euphemistic but not those two; they are just normal words every woman uses - the word menstruation is just too long and too medical. I, personally, always refer to it as my having a period.

I happened to hear such euphemisms as Indians coming or the American aunt who arrived in a red Mercedes but normally, any Pole will refer to it as to a period or monthly (the former form is more common, for in Polish this word is much shorter).

I never heard about it as being called the aunt from Moscow as the site gives it - but then again, the person who sent this phrase to the founder of the site said she heard it back in the communistic times. The word ciota, also given by this site, is obsolete, now this term isn't used often - it's at the same time an obsolete term for a wussy or gay man.