stinker

[AirbusA321]

Which of these terms can be used to describe somebody who smells bad?
stinker
minger
soap-dodger
stinkpot
reeker

 

[GoesStation]

None of them work in American English.

 

[Tdol]

In current BrE usage, a minger is frequently used to describe someone is is physically unappealing, not sexually attractive. The others apart from reeker are OK to me, though stinkpot sounds dated to me. However, I think many users would use a verb rather than these terms and just say that xxx stinks.

 

[AirbusA321]

None of them work in American English.

Would you say "skunk" in American English?

 

[GoesStation]

Would you say "skunk" in American English?

We could, I suppose, but it's more typical to use an adjective and a noun to describe a smelly person.

 

[andrewg927]

Stinker probably originated from a smelly person. But I use it to mean something else.

 

[probus]

I think both skunk and stinker are never used literally in AmE to indicate someone who smells bad. They are always metaphorical.

 

[Tdol]

Stinker probably originated from a smelly person. But I use it to mean something else.

In BrE it can mean someone who is untrustworthy, selfish, nasty, etc, though I don't hear it used much nowadays. It has an Enid Blyton ring to me.

 

[Rover_KE]

Which of these terms can be used to describe somebody who smells bad?

stinker

(etc)

None of them, Airbus.

Just say they have BO (body odour) or need to use a deodorant.