A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) against words, objects, actions, or discussions that are considered undesirable or offensive by a group, culture, society, or community. Breaking a taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent. Some taboo activities or customs are prohibited by law and transgressions may lead to severe penalties. Other taboos result in embarrassment, shame and rudeness.

Etymology

Common etymology traces the word back to the Tongan tapu or the Fijian tabuA Grammar of Boumaa Fijian, By Robert M. W. Dixon page 368 meaning "under prohibition", "not allowed", or "forbidden". In its modern use in Tonga, the word tapu also means "sacred" or "holy", although often in the sense of being restricted or protected by custom or by law. For example, the main island in the Kingdom of Tonga, where the capital Nuku'alofa is situated and most of the population resides, is called "Tongatapu". In this context, it means "Sacred South", rather than "forbidden south".

The use of the word taboo drawn from tapu (meaning "not allowed") dates back to 1777 and an English explorer, Captain James Cook, visiting a place he named "the Friendly Islands" (now Tonga). Describing the Tongans, he wrote:

''"Not one of them would sit down, or eat a bit of any thing.... On expressing my surprise at this, they were all taboo, as they said; which word has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in general, signifies that a thing is forbidden.... When any thing is forbidden to be eat, or made use of, they say, that it is taboo."

Some Solomon Islanders say that their languages have a word tabu (pronounced "tam-boo") that means holy. It refers to places in the bush where holy spirits reside (usually marked with an object, such as a giant clam shell or stone carving). Those areas should not be disturbed unless a ceremony is taking place, therefore they are places that should not be touched.

Examples

Taboos can include:

• dietary restrictions (halal and kosher diets, religious vegetarianism, and the prohibition of cannibalism)
• restrictions on sexual activities, gender roles and interpersonal relationships (examples include homosexuality and paraphilias (such as fornication, adultery, interreligious marriage, miscegenation, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, pedophilia, necrophilia).
• restrictions of bodily functions (burping, flatulence, defecation, urination, masturbation, nosepicking, and spitting) in public. Also, the requirement in some societies for women to be secretive about menstruation.
• restrictions on state of genitalia (circumcision or sex reassignment)
• restrictions on exposure of body parts (pornography and nudity)
• taboos on illicit drugs, substance abuse and addictions to legal drugs such as alcohol (alcoholism)
• restrictions on the use of offensive language also known as obscenity and vulgarity
• restriction on gestures
• taboo on slavery