The Buddha shares in brief the four kinds of verbal misconduct - 1) lying, 2) divisive speech, 3) harsh speech, and 4) frivolous chatter.

AN 4.148  Duccarita sutta - Misconduct

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, vacīduccaritāni. Katamāni cattāri?

“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of |verbal misconduct::misbehavior in speech [vacīduccarit]|. What four?

1.) Musāvādo,

1.) |False speech::lying, deliberately speaking falsehood [musāvāda]|,

2.) pisuṇā vācā,

2.) |divisive speech::slanderous, defamatory, malicious speech [pisuṇavācā]|,

3.) pharusā vācā,

3.) |harsh speech::abusive, rude, or unkind way of speaking [pharusāvācā]|,

4.) samphappalāpo

4.) |frivolous chatter::meaningless talk, gossip, idle speech [samphappalāpa]|.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri vacīduccaritānī”ti.

These are the four kinds of verbal misconduct.”

Qualities:

Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Last updated on December 13, 2025