ANALISIS KATA-KATA TABU DALAM BAHASA INGGRIS DAN BAHASA INDONESIA YANG DIGUNAKAN OLEH GENERASI Z DI X = THE ANALYSIS OF TABOO WORDS IN ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN USED BY GENERATION Z ON X

Generation Z is known for actively using taboo words on social media, particularly on X, and this usage is strongly shaped by cultural and linguistic background. However, research comparing taboo word use across English and Indonesian remains scarce. This study examines the types, uses, and meanings of taboo words employed by Gen Z in English and Indonesian on X, along with the cultural norms and values these reflect. Using a qualitative descriptive approach supported by quantitative frequency analysis, data were collected over five months (November 2025-March 2026) through non-participatory observation of posts, replies, and quote-tweets from six purposively sampled Gen Z participants (three native English speakers, three Indonesian speakers), yielding 506 coded tokens (367 English; 139 Indonesian), supplemented by open-ended questionnaires. Wardhaugh's (2010) taxonomy classified taboo word types, while Jay's (1992) five-function framework examined their pragmatic functions. Findings show the English native speaker participants predominantly use taboo words directly (94.0%), with sexual references and racial slurs most frequent and the descriptive-evaluative function dominant. Indonesian-speaking participants favour euphemisms (69.8%), largely through phonological variants of "anjing" within the animals-as-insult category, with the surprise-exclamation function most prominent. Culturally, native English speakers view direct taboo expression as honest and authentic, deeming it inappropriate only when targeting personal identity. Indonesian speakers, by contrast, regard taboo language as conflicting with Islamic values, family honour, and "sopan santun" (politeness) norms. These differences suggest that taboo language among Gen Z on X reflects not merely linguistic variation but distinct cultural value systems shaping online communication across groups.