Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Merriam-Webster names "w00t" word of the year

Merriam-Webster names "w00t" word of the year
Thread Tools
Eug
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 01:05 PM
 
"w00t" crowned word of year by U.S. dictionary - Yahoo! Canada News

Massachusetts-based Merriam-Webster Inc. said "w00t" -- typically spelled with two zeros -- reflects a new direction in the American language led by a generation raised on video games and cell phone text-messaging.

It's like saying "yay," the dictionary said.

"It could be after a triumph or for no reason at all," Merriam-Webster said.

Visitors to Merriam-Webster's Web site were invited to vote for one of 20 words and phrases culled from the most frequently looked-up words on the site and submitted by readers.

Runner-up was "facebook" as a new verb meaning to add someone to a list of friends on the Web site Facebook.com or to search for people on the social networking site.


I find this amusing, but also at the same time mildly concerning. It's fine for casual writing, but I hope that internet shorthand for other words doesn't make it into formal writing any time soon.
     
Dakar the Fourth
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In the hearts and minds of MacNNers
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 01:07 PM
 
I'm disturbed they decided on a word with numbers in it. This is unprecedented, isn't it?
     
RandomUsername
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mumbai, India
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 01:13 PM
 
My Prediction:
By the Year 2015, "yay" will be entirely replaced by "w00t".
Santaji.net
     
Sherman Homan
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 01:40 PM
 
Wait a minute, is the word "yay" a word?!

Merriam-Webster Online
"The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above."
     
Jawbone54
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Louisiana
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 01:46 PM
 
Not anymore. It was replaced by "w00t" ahead of schedule.

"Yay" no longer exists.
     
olePigeon
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 02:35 PM
 
Originally Posted by Sherman Homan View Post
Wait a minute, is the word "yay" a word?!
Depends on the dictionary, but most group it under as an alternate spelling for "yeah" and "yea."
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Sherman Homan
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 02:46 PM
 
Right, but the article quotes a Merriam Webster spokesman using the work "yay" and "yay" isn't a word in Merriam-Webster's own dictionary!
Just thought it was funny.
     
MacosNerd
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 02:56 PM
 
Seems kind of lame to me, but then I've been accused of being an old fart on more then one occasion.
     
irunat2am
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 07:09 PM
 
woOt!
24" iMac 2.16GHz c2d ~ 3G ram ~ 250G ~ Superdrive ~ Pure Sexiness
15" Powerbook G4 ~ 1.5GHz ~ 1.5G ram ~ 160G ~ Combo
     
Eug  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 08:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by irunat2am View Post
woOt!
o_O
     
- - e r i k - -
Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 09:12 PM
 
Woot!

Who the hell spells it with zeroes anyway?

[ fb ] [ flickr ] [] [scl] [ last ] [ plaxo ]
     
brassplayersrock²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 14, 2007, 11:41 PM
 
Originally Posted by irunat2am View Post
wo_Ot!
123
     
awaspaas
Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 12:17 PM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
Who the hell spells it with zeroes anyway?
The annoying iPhone hacker lady is the only one I can think of.
     
Sourbook
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 01:30 PM
 
1. w00t
2. facebook
3. conundrum
4. quixotic
6. blamestorm
6. sardoodledom
7. apathetic
8. Pecksniffian
9. hypocrite
10. charlatan

Pecksniffian made me laugh.

And when is "pwned' going to crack the top ten?
     
Eriamjh
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: BFE
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 05:06 PM
 
Lamest
word
ever.

It's just slang. It will come and go like most other slang.

I'm a bird. I am the 1% (of pets).
     
imitchellg5
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 05:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by Sourbook View Post
1. w00t
2. facebook
3. conundrum
4. quixotic
6. blamestorm
6. sardoodledom
7. apathetic
8. Pecksniffian
9. hypocrite
10. charlatan

Pecksniffian made me laugh.

And when is "pwned' going to crack the top ten?
hoepfly nxt yr1!1
     
Jawbone54
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Louisiana
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 06:05 PM
 
How many of you actually use the word "pwned" in actual conversations?
I admit to having used it three or four times. Or maybe 10.
     
medicman55
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit, Mi
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 06:17 PM
 
I do! Mainly when I'm with my nerdy friends though.
     
imitchellg5
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 06:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by Jawbone54 View Post
How many of you actually use the word "pwned" in actual conversations?
Probably just as many people as those who use w00t.
You just got pwnd1!ONE1
     
brassplayersrock²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 15, 2007, 07:00 PM
 
i've heard "w00t" used here at school more then "pwned" actually
     
C.A.T.S. CEO
Professional Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: eating kernel
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 04:25 AM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
Woot!

Who the hell spells it with zeroes anyway?
L33t p30pl3.

Originally Posted by Jawbone54 View Post
How many of you actually use the word "pwned" in actual conversations?
I admit to having used it three or four times. Or maybe 10.
I do, regularly, and nobody cares...
Signature depreciated.
     
Tiresias
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Korea
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 09:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by Sherman Homan View Post
Wait a minute, is the word "yay" a word?!
Yes.

yay 1. exclamation informal

expressing triumph, approval, or encouragement: Yay! Great, Julie!

ORIGIN 1960s: perhaps an alteration of yeah .
     
Tiresias
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Korea
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 09:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by Jawbone54 View Post
How many of you actually use the word "pwned" in actual conversations?
I admit to having used it three or four times. Or maybe 10.
How do you pronounce it?
     
- - e r i k - -
Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 09:35 AM
 
Owned!

[ fb ] [ flickr ] [] [scl] [ last ] [ plaxo ]
     
Jawbone54
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Louisiana
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 12:15 PM
 
"Powned."
     
Oisín
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Copenhagen
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 02:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by Tiresias View Post
How do you pronounce it?
Exactly as it’s written: pwned [pwn̩d]
     
brassplayersrock²
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 02:39 PM
 
     
imitchellg5
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 16, 2007, 03:12 PM
 
That guy got pwnd like a level 4 n00b1!1ONE!
     
Andrew Stephens
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2004
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 17, 2007, 09:50 AM
 
Good for w00t!

w00t! is teh schizzz
     
Person Man
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 17, 2007, 10:55 AM
 
Originally Posted by Eug View Post
I find this amusing, but also at the same time mildly concerning. It's fine for casual writing, but I hope that internet shorthand for other words doesn't make it into formal writing any time soon.
Indeed. With the way things are going, if dictionaries start to accept shorthand and leetspeek spelling, in 30 years, I'll be buying H@rsn's 7x7bk of 1nt. m3d, 25th 3d. (Harrison's Textbook of Internal Medicine, 25th edition).

     
Kevin
Baninated
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: In yer threads
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 17, 2007, 11:05 AM
 
Someone is rolling in their grave now. Not sure who.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:26 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,