Goddamn is a curse word for anger or annoyance. It works two ways, and students need both. As a sudden cry, it stands alone: “Goddamn, it’s cold.” As a describing word, it sits in front of a noun and throws mud on it: “this goddamn printer,” “that goddamn noise.” People also stick it in front of another describing word for extra heat: “goddamn stupid.” It is rude and informal. Some Christians find it offensive, because it uses God’s name in anger. Though actually, the old meaning was even heavier: it was a wish, like a dark twin of “God bless.” “God damn (you)” once meant “may God strike this person for the wrong they have done.” Most people who say it now are not asking God to do anything; they are just stressing how fed up they are. You will hear it in films and in angry talk. You will not hear it in polite company, and you should not put it in school writing. Spellings wander a little (goddam, goddamn), but the feel is the same: a hard, dirty word.