Duh!

Duh!!!

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475 Responses to Duh!

  1. eyvindur says:

    Man I love those old looney tunes. If you go back and watch them they seem very adult. I think it came from people saying uhhhh. Too bad Marina doesn’t have any money making tips like hotforprofits.

  2. leoNard says:

    random lesson—corruption, dat it is, do’ me ain’t chur. oops :!: :sad:

  3. Doh! A similar word popularized by Homer Simpson.

  4. Prospero says:

    I love that shirt…..

    I doubt, however, that “duh” comes from the words for yes. I think it more likely comes from the expressions of stupid people who use “throat clearing” words and sounds. “Duhhhh…I dunno…” for example. And, so to mimic stupid people, the term was standardized to “duh.”

  5. lividemerald says:

    The odd thing is that I don’t actually recall requesting this word! But I’ve been away for over a month, and the memory is the first thing to go! But, boy, do I have a smile on my face!!! :cool:

  6. runawayscott says:

    Never thought about that. Interesting though. could be it.

  7. thesaurusrex says:

    As you were gussing, so am I. The American west seems to be the leader in taking words from other cultures and twisting them to mean something else. My guess would be “Duh” is a WWII adaptation of either the German or Russian word for “Yes.” Qui? The French word for “Ich würde liebend gerne Ihr Kind.”

  8. matalexwolf says:

    the origin of Duh?? I Duh-no!! :smile:

    erm, well, maybe I do recal as a weener child sayer ‘Duh!’ to someone else who got something wrong or made a twit out of them selves…..they said it alot to me :sad: Duh derived from someone who wasn’t all there, the lights on but no ones home kinda thing……a bit challenged in some way……not a good word in that respect….

  9. tedt says:

    Nice video.

    Can you say “Ja” more often ? Your russian accent rocks the room (don´t worry, all russian people say it that way */caldown* :wink: )

  10. swineheund says:

    I think you might be off in your theory for “duh”. I believe it comes from the mocking of the way an unintelligent person speaks, especially when they’re giving a list of items, as in: “I like to eat french fries and hamburgers and pizza and – uh – did I say pizza?”

    “Duh” comes from joining the end of “and” with “uh”. (There’s actually a word for that, but – uh – I can’t remember what it is.)

    When I was little we mocked people who said something stupid (or too obvious to need saying) by saying something like, “Duh, I’m not too bright, am I?” And from there, it seems like “duh” moved on to be a retort to anyone who said anything stupid or obvious.

    Yers,
    Swineheund

  11. benji says:

    I love those old cartoons

  12. swedehunter says:

    Hello dear teacher!
    Are you surprised if I say you are absolutely correct when you gave your idea about the word comming from Sweden… :)
    Interesting thing is that we in Sweden (the young ones…) use the frase “men du” for the same reason, only that means “Hey you!” and pronounced in a sarcastic tone just like “duh”

    From your dear student / Swedehunter

  13. yankeegato says:

    “Duh” was used in cartoons and comics to indicate that someone was not bright enough to immediately think of obvious words. It was meant more as a sign of lack of brains than as “that’s obvious,” and it’s use today is more in the sense of “you’re an idiot” than “it’s obvious.”

  14. davecodave says:

    441 !!!! It’s ok that I’m late to the party. …I’m the “TEACHERS PET”!!!

  15. shovet1111 says:

    You always say “HotforWords decided to Investigate”. So I was wondering were did the word Investigate come from?

  16. scronix says:

    Hi Marina :)
    Nice videos. Keep up the great work :wink:

    Would be very interesting to get the origin of the word that we all use; “internet”.

    Thanks if you do and have a nice day :grin:

    Regards
    Scronix

  17. Bob says:

    Sorry to tell you guys, but she’s doing what she always does which is wait for me to go to bed before she posts the new video.
    However, tonight I’m not co-operating; I’m going to stay here and wait all night if necessary. :razz:

  18. kcricks says:

    Marina, The original word “Duh”, i believe had nothing to do with “Stating the obvious” as it is used today. It was a reference to “Dummy”, a pause and a “Duh” meaning ” Someone did not know an answer to the situation or problem at hand”, maybe even “Stupid” or “The expression of Stupidity”. It has of late of course been more used as you have depicted “Stating the Obvious” but it still is know to be used as “Stating the Obvious Stupid”. The derivative of the word is not likely to have been with reference to “Yes” in other languages. I do however, love you and your site. You have set an example for others to learn more about words and there meanings. Than k you for all you do.

  19. Hey Marina can u please tell me the meaning of he word Farfetched and how it started and i no that this is like one suggestion out of like a million but it seems like a good word
    thx if u do :mrgreen:

  20. lostforwords says:

    I think Marina meant that she starts working on the new video when the old one hit page 2 ’cause it’s been on page one forever….

  21. :oops: so sorry that this time i can’t suggest anything interesting,i hope i managed to do that in the other lessons so that i can be a helpful student, :???: Marino4ka,have you corrected our former homeworks even if you are costantly so busy? i don’t actually know whether i did a good job,i really hope so….anyway in my mediocre opinion i think that duh derives from a mixture between RUSSIAN and SWEDISH,i do believe that this is just the most logical solution….. Do you know also Marina that a Swedish friend of mine who explained me the Swedish origin of the verb ”kidnap” told me that you sound completely Swedish when you say ”JAaaah” and DUH” …we have really noticed that the foreign languages in which you have worked better so far(except English ,of course,) :grin: are Italian and Swedish…..

  22. we’re back live and direct? :roll:
    - anticipation is making me wait :mrgreen:

  23. Capman911 says:

    Well I am going to leave it to you folks. I have to finish my honey do list. I’LL be back :lol:

  24. Capman911 says:

    I have listened to Hello my dear students a hundred times. But the thing about it. I could listen to it another hundred. :smile:

  25. Captain Jack says:

    Referring to the YT Keyframe. Doesn’t Marina look loving with her head up next to her twin sister the now sock puppet? They look so cute together! Awe… :wink:

  26. lostforwords says:

    Marina,

    Don’t forget not to compress the next one too much–this one didn’t get the “watch in high quality button.”

    lostforwords

  27. Capman911 says:

    Have you noticed that no one has commented lately. They are hitting F5 and keep renewing there page awaiting on you. :twisted:

  28. Capman911 says:

    Ok you are holding out on us. :smile: Keeping us in suspence. :evil:

  29. madboy says:

    i think this word comes from the romanian DA. Whis word mean yes :wink: peace

  30. maciek says:

    Hi Marina! ;*
    can U check the word “rush”

  31. okay4now says:

    Where does ‘Duh’ come from. Usually from the back of the classroom, never from the front row… :cool:

    What type of word is ‘duh’ anyway, adjective, noun, adverb?

  32. dude8718 says:

    what is antidisestablishmentarianism :?: :wink:

  33. Capman911 says:

    Ok everyone get ready for the new video. The du video is on the second row second page. :grin:

  34. vital says:

    “Sputnik”. What does it mean :?:

  35. jezzo says:

    ermm can i ask for 2 words if thts ok
    first: insperation
    second: regardless

  36. HOLY MOLEY!
    I just Googled melikadothechacha!
    I got 22 pages of search data,
    all the way back to my first post!
    …so now I know :mrgreen:

  37. Faithreaver says:

    Well the word I’v been curious about lately is the one word that is in my nickname :arrow: “Reaver”
    The only thing I know is that its meaning is somewhere between stealing or in literature – more mystical “to devour”, but the origin of the word and the exact meaning of it, is lost for me (if I’m not mistaking at all))) :sad:
    Так что я буду очень рад если ты объеснишь значение этого слова =) :wink:
    From Russia with love…
    Спасибо за полезные уроки))
    Много интересного для себя выцепил…
    And I had the same idea about the word Duh!

  38. dangar131 says:

    I’ve always wanted to know what the phrase “Kicking the bucket” meant. It’s suppose to suggest death although it makes no sense to me.

    • juhsepi says:

      Marina, sorry if I steal this one from you..

      I always heard that it had to do with someone hanging themselves. They would stand on the bucket, put the noose around there neck and then “kick the bucket” to make enact final decision.

  39. Appartments – why are they called apartments if they are together, not apart?

    Freckles- i have them but how did the name for them come to be?

  40. Please do the word BABYDOLL…. does it have to do something with dolls???? or babies???
    I have posted this comment a while ago and I have not recieved any responses…
    I understand you have so many comments but please do it!…
    thank you.

  41. superponz80 says:

    What if the right origin comes from the Homeric (Simpson obviously) “d’oh”? :cool:

  42. gone60sek says:

    Marina, I love your yeahh beibi :razz: :mrgreen: :D :D:D your sos sexy lady

  43. gonzo78m says:

    after that last comment i think i’m going to buy white smoke. :cry:

  44. viragobob says:

    Marina, I love your vids – they are very educational. There’s one word I’ve been meaning to ask you the origin/history of the word, “goods” – as in “Did you get the goods?” or “He knows the goods on her.”
    Thank you Marina and have a superb day :!:
    Click here to send me an email! >>===> :idea:

  45. gonzo78m says:

    I got one more my teacher!! if a dork is a whale pennis why does is it also used to reffer to a nerd or geek??

  46. gonzo78m says:

    Teacher please picks me!!!!! I request the origin on getting a leg up on the competition.

  47. mac attack says:

    if u think that’s where it from then i think ur right,also i was woundering about the word cal. like a gun 50.cal. or 22.cal.

  48. steve777 says:

    Hey, nice work, I have a lot of fun watching your videos. My word request is viral. I’m a big fan of resident evil :mrgreen:

  49. gillette says:

    Hi Marina,congratulations for your work,we need it badly.My word request is the word”amativity”.Even in french Larousse has taken that word out,i don’t know why because it is an important word.It means the instinct which push men and women to go to each other for the reproduction of the species.Thanks for your answer.

  50. appel says:

    Hi hotforwords,
    Will you please do a lesson on the word -ion- thank you very much.
    Loyal Viewer
    Appel.

  51. Hello Hotforwords,
    I would be very happy if I could please request the word “Autism”.
    My brother has it, and I want to have people understand what “Autism” is and what it means. Thank you so much,
    Your #1 grammar fan,
    Jake (TheAutismSpectrum)

  52. I always use this word, my boyfriend doesn’t know what it means =]
    The word is pedantic.

    I love my boyfriend but he is so pedantic!

    love love x

  53. geronimo says:

    Why is everyone still requesting words in this area when there is a specific area for that? See “request a word” above.

  54. mozozozo69 says:

    hi i’d like to know the origin of the word thong :wink:

  55. wilba says:

    First up i gotta say well done and congratulations! I Have a word you might like to check out. It’s a bit obscure and am not too sure how long it has been around. Although I guess the name may shed some light on it’s history. Anyway to the point, if you find time wuold you have a look into the wrod “Typoglcemia“.

    Cheers and Thank you in advance Marina.

  56. 2dave says:

    Hello I have a word to request the word pantyhose. I was wondering where this word began.

  57. hiphopflop says:

    I have a word that I would like for you to look up…iPod. I know what it is and I actually work for Apple but I have never been able to find out why its called the iPod.

    • Check the wordlist, “dutch”
      has recently been done!

      Before any word requests
      are made, please read the
      words list to avoid repetition.

      ( I read that someplace on the homepage? )

      OK – I’ll help you this time.
      NEXT time – You’re in “dutch” :mrgreen:

  58. inco says:

    duh is not russian — it is a covenient shortage of saying obviously in a some ruud maner

  59. inco says:

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
    HEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!
    what ”’sought out”’ from some like ””sought out those schmucks”’ means :lol: :?:

  60. would you please do the word retread

  61. please do the word sundae and pajama

  62. tayljim says:

    5 BIG stars :!: :!: :!: :!:

    would like to add my request for rock n roll, have heard
    many different origins and am curious on your take of
    the origin

  63. puckman384 says:

    hi Marina!

    Can you do the origin of the word Sunday (as in the tasty treat)?

    I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the day Sunday…

    Hopefully i’ll find out

    Thanks,
    puckman384 :grin:

  64. PageDoll says:

    How about the words gobbledygook and jabberwocky?…where could they have possibly come from!!?….mmmmm??

  65. Could you do a video on “pajamas”,please?

  66. coachbeezy03 says:

    Marina, I would like to know the origin of the word facetious. :grin:

  67. paulito13x2 says:

    You are gorgeous Marina, I would like to request the word “WOW”!

  68. pankipan4e says:

    Maybe it came from the Macedonian word “Да” that also meens “Yes”. What do you think about this Marina??

  69. dr.hoonc says:

    Where does the word “handsome” come from?
    And
    Where does the word “ta” (slang used in New Zealand, Australia, and ? the UK to say thank you) come from?
    Ta!

  70. waf1 says:

    Where does the term “watershed moment” come from? To me, watershed refers to ground water.

    How about the word zombie?

  71. thxeleven38 says:

    Dear Teacher:

    I disagree with your hypotheses.

    I propose “duh” came about by people with
    slurred speech in softening the “t” sound
    when pronouncing the word “the”.

  72. robin says:

    Hi Marina,

    A hot word for Hotforwords to investigate: ‘Culture’

    Thanks Hottie

  73. lastdevil says:

    hey please tell us the origin of the word “virgin”

  74. gregory55 says:

    Dear Marina,

    I would like to know the origin of the word “debauchery.” Thanks alot! <3

    ~Greg

  75. “idiot” comes from ancient Greek, not from French. It meant “common citizen”, so not a slave but neither an educated aristocratic, usually a farmer. For sure “idiota” was already an offense in Latin.

    “journal” means in fact “daily”, likely from the French “jour” and the Italian “giorno” (day). I am not sure I know English well enough, but daily news are “newspapers”, whereas a “journal” is not daily. How it comes “jour” and “giorno” from “dies”? I think it is via “diurnus” (of the day; daily).

    Sorry, I know Marina would explain all that in a much more sexy way ;-)

  76. fphs1946 says:

    What about sanction? It means to approve (as in “The league sanctioned the use of aluminum bats” and to disapprove (as in, “The club was sanctioned for violating the rules.”

    And Michigan, a US state and Michoacan, a state in Mexico. Same name?

  77. dhingarhdz says:

    Can I request for the origin of the word “Monster”

    Thanks Marina ;D

  78. lostinhere says:

    I think the word corruption theory is very plausible. Words are corrupted or meanings change on a continuous basis in all living languages.

  79. the origin and meaning of the word “tomboy”

  80. fphs1946 says:

    The “duh” origin seems unsolvable because the meaning of “it’s obvous” is indicated by the intonation. The two sources you cited–cartoon and Edgar Bergen– are both verbal records where the intonation would be preserved. I don’t think you could get this from a written source. Same with the use of “hello”–intonation is used to indicate also that it’s obvious, as in “Hello, I’m bleeding here.” Holmes might have told Watson, “Hello, this appears to be blood,” but he wouldn’t have used it sarcastically. I think the origin of this use of “duh” is as impossible to discover as the origin of the fashion of turning baseball caps backwards (for non-catchers)

  81. foxbow says:

    No,

    im tired so im not gonna type anything more -.-

  82. a55wh013 says:

    pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis
    i never knew where and what it meant. =] good luck

  83. Captain Jack says:

    Now for the first time on BoobTube you can order HFW sock puppet! Thats right! You can order one of a kind Marina Hotforwords sock puppet! Get yours now before supplies run out! Operators are standing by!Call 1-800-555-5555.

    (fine print… some restrictions apply. You must be 150 years old or older to purchase, Not available in any state, All suppliers are sold out, you must be a descendant of anyone from the planet Mars.)

    hehehe Would it be cool if we could get our own sock puppet of Marina?

    • PageDoll says:

      A doll like barbie would be fun if it had a pull string you could yank on and when you did it would say common phrases that teacher says…course an extra thick russian accent would be best!

      • Bob says:

        Mwah!
        Another thing to buy from your trusty hotforwords.
        There you go!
        See you all very soon.
        :lol:
        One thing puzzles me … how does she see us?

      • Bob says:

        BTW, the doll was a MIRRORЯOЯЯIM image again.
        I think she needs a proof reader.

      • Captain Jack says:

        Interesting question Bob. How does she see us? I have wondered about that same question for a long time. I have a few theories, but thats all they would be is just theories. Hum….

      • Captain Jack says:

        PageDoll, How large would this doll idea of your be? Real Doll sized?

      • GREG says:

        Well Guys,
        I would have to think We/I scare her to death. Becaus there might be a wacko lurking out here. Trying to figure out were she lives and every other aspect in her life. Think , If You were a Hot young thing and got all the attention she gets here? Wouldn’t you be a little intemidated? I would have Gucci sleeping in the bed with Me.

        More over, it only take one roof tile to come loose in the storm, And all shit could hit the fan. Like in her life. Her audience is a very fickle and vengeful group of Kids and XXXers And could turn on her in a snap.
        So yeah, I think We all scare her to death.

        RRR
        Typospaztic.

    • GREG says:

      Hey capt, I’m eligible to buy. Were do I get one? :lol:

  84. axxo798 says:

    word request “idiot” i heard it comes from some french word

  85. augie says:

    :lol: Duh !!!!! I LOVE YOU TEACHER :lol:

  86. auvergne says:

    Can u do a movie for “kudos” Please do “kudos”

  87. lol on this lesson…we too in slovenia use “da” as “yes” in english but we have deformed word from german “doch” and it’s used as duh…

    ok what’s with origin about word :?: subterfuge :?:

  88. greenbush says:

    Homework answer: i dunno. Your answer of the 1943 cartoon sounds very plausible. Cool dude, surfs up, whatzup, humdinger, doohickey, thingamjig, yo, whatchamacallit, ect. are all fairly recent Americanized vocabulary terms/words/slang. Regarding the weapon of choice: AK-47, M-16, bare hands, peace,…. well with this Russian, I would not play twiddly-winks with. Nikolai Valuev

  89. “Bug Bunny” in a HotForWords video?
    Marina, you’re alright. :)

  90. dimwit124 says:

    I suggest you do the word “chamber”. I think it might be interesting to find out the origin of it!

  91. Captain Jack says:

    HEY PEOPLE! ARE WE HAVING FUN YET!!! :mrgreen: :grin: :mrgreen:
    Give me a ‘M’
    Give me an ‘a’
    Give me a ‘r’
    Give me an ‘i’
    Give me a ‘n’
    Give me an ‘a’
    Whats that spell????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?
    I don’t know? Thats why Im asking you? Duh! :roll: Geee…

    I just had to blurt that out. Sorry if I woke anyone. I just finished a beer before bed time and I tend to get really happy. I’ll try harder next time and act like a jerk or one of those… well you know.. an a hole. :oops:

      • Captain Jack says:

        No I wasn’t referring to you. Just one of those guys that gets drunk and acts like an mule… I seen a few of them on the beach yesterday. All drunk and acting like jerks. I was hoping they would end up on the Darwin Awards to thin out the herd.

      • GREG says:

        I am not thin skinned. It was just a good set up.
        I gave ya the :shock: ( like the fore finger to the side of the nose)
        I like goofing on RRR the most, of all of ya’ll. :shock: -J-:shock:
        |
        ||]]]]]]]]]]]]( ~ ~ ~MD ~ ~ ~MD ~ ~ ~MD
        |]]]]0 ……….Bang ……Bang ……Bang

    • greenbush says:

      Земля имеет твердое учредительство, воду не имеет никакое учредительство. Где ваше учредительство в глубоких океанах?

    • greenbush says:

      No. Thanks, good answer. Internet 101, Babel Fish.

    • GREG says:

      Is greeny making a statement like;,
      . We can not have a strong moral base, if there is ever changing ideals in the law. or he wants a coke…..?

      • greenbush says:

        No, Mr. 3R’s. I asked CJ something like this. Land is solid foundation. Water has no foundation. What is your foundation in the deep ocean? And since i just cut my hair, don’t do drugs anymore, I only drink (green) mountain dew.:roll:

      • Captain Jack says:

        @Gw,
        Awe tha’ts why you have the new photo. :smile:

        One more thing I want to add to my answer to you. Does an ice cube need a foundation to float? I am like an ice cube at the top of the cup of water. Free to float to and fro. I am free to travel to any ocean in the world. I am not tied down to any rock which is owned by the government. 70% of the planet is covered with water. I am no longer bound to the other 30%. I am the little ice cube traveling in a very large cup. That there my friend is freedom.

        I have this feeling you where looking for some other kind of answer.

        __/)__

    • greenbush says:

      Thanks cj for responding to my attempt at Russian. My question can be answered any way you feel like, it posed any parameters that you choose from. Since I feel stable walking on land, being tossed about at sea is an unwelcome event. Yes, I could feel stable on land, but if I race my car past a police car, say doing 40mph over the speed limit, I would get that unstable feeling when the police turns the siren on. So since you face danger in the very deep waters, my guess is that you have a mental anchor, saying something to yourself, “I am heading into the big wave, not rolling side to side, check/no problem, all the hatches are battoned down, check, the new sailor/bad sailor/sick sailor are all doing their job, I didn’t hit a reef, (ect.) “I’m OK, continue on.” That was my question. But any answer is fine. Thanks. Wow/off topic.

  92. existence_ says:

    Hello Marina,
    I would like to request the origin of the word “journal”. I read that it comes from the latin word dies, “day”, but how could that be, because they are written in a completely different way?

  93. gamblerman says:

    What is the origin of the word CRAP. :twisted:

  94. i-spy says:

    Origin: 1960–65, Americanism
    I think that is the origin of that word Maria

  95. benjamin9987 says:

    Hello there. I have a word for you to play with:

    Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

    Thank you.

  96. silentmouth says:

    Interested in the origins of the word “vicarious” and how it came to be named. Can you possibly finally answer my question as many other resources offer different answers and they often conflict.

  97. D’OH!~ I mean, Duhh, Da? Nyet. I give up. Surrender!~ Thats a good word teach, I’m sure it has something to do with a battlefield.
    Marina, I have been sending pochta to a girl in Russia. I believe “this one” to be real, as she held up a piece of paper with the words, Hi Leo! It’s me Mariya.( in a recent photo) Is there any other way I can verify that she really exists?
    Please write your answer in my email below. I rate all your videos excellent, and I subscribe to your channel. I would love to chat over Chi sometime. Chi!~ another good word. Spacebo Marina~
    vasdrugleonard-Len_sno@yahoo.com

  98. BillyB says:

    I don’t know how many times your average viewer watches, but I’ll bet it’s more than twice per vid, I’d say probably 4-5 times. I’m curious about a couple of things & may remain so. Do you have someone, a friend or relative view your lessons before you post them? And when one views a lesson two or three times in a row, does that only add one view to the count? the second question, I can do without the answer, for now.

    • HotForWords says:

      I try to have someone watch a lesson before I post but most of the time I don’t have the time to do that.. I just post it then tell people to watch it really quick to see if there are errors!

      As for the views.. I think it counts the repeat views up to a point.. it should count them as they are views but probably stops counting after it becomes obvious manipulation. It only shows you the same ad perhaps once or twice as well…

    • hutchiee says:

      Most sites track previous hits through cookies. If you regularly turf your cookies, it will track you as unique again unless you’ve logged in to your account.

  99. megaflunky says:

    Looking for a phrase really

    RAW DEAL
    SQUARE DEAL

  100. sonlaw13 says:

    I’ve requested this before, but….(it isn’t in the list), so here’s a really interesting word: Contrafibularities. I’ve found some sources saying it’s fake, some that it’s legit. What’s the deal?

  101. zackramey says:

    What about “sick as a dog” that would be a nice word…please

  102. labbatt78 says:

    I know which character says duh often before starting a sentence-Moose Mason in the Archie comics.

  103. phoebecakes says:

    can you do the words “spirit” and “soul”?
    what is the difference?

  104. yorinny3 says:

    Hello Marina,

    I just returned from vacation in the great Northwoods of Wisconsin and was wondering where the term “Boondocks” came from….

    Thanks and I love the lessons….

  105. saltyzzz says:

    You should most definitely tell us the origin of Cellular. Like cellular phone cell phone ya know. Haha. =D

  106. PageDoll says:

    What about the word Humdinger??

  107. new word request… xoxo. how does that have anything to do with hugs and kisses?

  108. Ok i know this sounds bad and like a joke but the word fuck. I have heard the orgin is german… but it an acroynm meaning fornicate under common knowledge. I have also heard it means fornicate by command of the king meaning that in early england the black plague killed off tons of people and the king actually ordered people to try to repopualte england. Why would a words orgin be german but have english ties? Do you know the actual meaning and orgin of this word. I would love if you helped me out on this thanks.

  109. Its a very interesting theory about the word “Duh” coming from Russian, Irish, German, and other languages. To be honest I don’t have another theory but I do like yours. Perhaps someone just didn’t understand what that Swedish guy with the dummy was saying and thought he was saying something that was supposed to be obvious. Please do hockey….I know that in Russian “hockey” is basically said the same way as it is here so I wonder how old the word is or where it came from.

  110. nixproto says:

    i would like to request the origin of “skeletons in the closet” to be done on the show. :grin:

  111. seanzo35 says:

    Hey, i have a request for a word that might be confusing to figure out the meaning but i’ve always been wondering what thw definition, and or origin is of the word “word”

  112. dilocho says:

    I wonder where the phrase “more *whatever* than you can shake a stick at” came from :/

  113. Oldboy15 says:

    Hello Marina,
    I was curious where the phrase flying colors comes from. As in you passed with flying colors.

  114. Pseudonym says:

    I’m not normally someone who gets into English usage corrections, but this is a linguistics site, so I feel justified.

    “Duh” is usually not sarcastic. The word “sarcasm” implies an intent to wound. “Duh” is usually derisive, not hurtful, and hence is sardonic rather than sarcastic.

  115. w0nd3r80y33 says:

    I was wondering baby if u could find the word
    whore
    I know what it means but i dont get it really! :wink:
    THANKS LOVE YA <3

  116. Marina,
    Your Da/Ta/Ja theory for Duh may have merit. In the 1990′s my Munich German partners would occasionally use Ja in the same way we use Duh. The key was the same slow, flat, elongated sarcastic pronounciation with the same “no shit Sherlock, thank you Admiral obvious, I hope you didn’t stay up late coming to that conclusion” meaning.

    Mit Freundlichen Grusse

    Another origin might be a morphing of the word from phrases such as, “Duh, I don’t know”.

  117. Capman911 says:

    Время пойти положить в постель. Ноча Miss.M ночи :wink:

  118. ydna says:

    Marina! Interesting video, I didn’t think I could ponder the word duh.
    I’d like to know the origin of the word “pie”. Perhaps an ancestry with the greek letter of similar name? hmmm

  119. pipeoutdoors says:

    hiii!!! I am really glad i can talk to u… i was wondering if u could tell be the origin of B-line,as in u make a B-line for the door.,because if u maade a B-line for the door it wouldnt be very straight.
    thnx.luv pipeoutdoors xoxo

    B-LINE

  120. blkburn says:

    where the does the word baptize come from? if i undergo a baptism of fire does that mean i get fire poured on my head?

  121. carpe_diam says:

    hiii marina!!! great video! i would like to know the origin of the word “Boo”

    I thought it might be interesting because it has several different meanings :P

  122. iknix11 says:

    Hi Marina, May I request for the word ” Maiden ”
    Thank You Very Much and more power!
    nmp11

  123. Hey marina,
    I would like to get to know of the word:
    “EXTRAVAGANZA”
    Thnx..
    Sincerely,
    FamousxBlayzez

  124. Capman911 says:

    Marina, Can I get one of those hand puppets of your self. :smile:

  125. martin1337 says:

    Marina! Now I am upset!

    I watch all your videos and have been watching them for a very long time, and I love them.

    Tho! – I am from Norway, and “Yes” is also “Ja” in Norwegian, same as in Swedish and Danish. It dissapointed me that you forgot to tell that :sad: :sad: :sad:

  126. sla_erick says:

    Hi, im very instested about the words “LOL”, “LMAO” and “OMG”. Please HotFor Words, investigate. Thanks! :grin:

  127. jamesrw says:

    I would like to know the origin of the word “stool”, as in a bowel movement, because I find it strange that a bodily function is associated with a piece of furniture.

  128. toysjoe says:

    Happy Canada Day to any Canadians! :mrgreen:

    Hope I’m not the only one.

  129. toysjoe says:

    I doubt Duh came from those languages for “yes” because I think duh is more of an imitation of a sound a dumb person would make, implying that the person is dumb for asking what they did. It has much more to do with that imitation than a sarcastic way of saying “yes.”

    • HotForWords says:

      Do “dumb” (meaning mute? or stupid??) people really make that sound or do we just pretend that they make that sound?

      • GREG says:

        Marina,
        It has been brought to my attention, That I am something of a A.S.S.hole. So I will ask you. Do you understand my somewhat twisted humor, And maybe the…..1 or 2 sharply ironical taunts,
        Are all in fun? Or did I come off as just a jerk. :???:

        I thought everyone was in on my witticisms. And can see sarcasm, satire. And take it presonaly. Your call Marina.
        No need not reply just, block me. I will unstand.
        I’ll live aether way.

        Thank’s
        RRR.

      • PageDoll says:

        Don’t go RRR, I think you’re cool and I love the picks you sometimes post of the beautiful babys! :grin:

      • Captain Jack says:

        RR, if you where and freaking annoying truck driver we would have you kicked out years ago. The fact that I even respond you, must mean I care enough to spend my precious time to respond to your comments or something. :mrgreen: We all rub each other the wrong way from time to time. I guess its important to be a tad bit sensitive to one another ( I didn’t just say that did i?) . I guess we all should shake hands and give a few hugs for we can fight each other another day. :mrgreen: Are you cool with that RR?

      • geronimo says:

        It’s an exaggeration of a stereotype. Some deaf people may make that sound when speaking but it mostly is identified to depict an uneducated people who say this when mentally reaching for a word.

  130. tak178 says:

    I would like to know the origin of the word “obsequious”.

    Thanks a lot… :)

  131. bill2468 says:

    When a verbally challanged person is lost for words but is still trying to speak despite having nothing to he will utter duh while anticipating some thought congeals in his/her mind to speak.

    BiLL

  132. oozaco says:

    Hey! Marina, i would like to know the origin behind “douche bag”

  133. spiritodeman says:

    I would like to know the origin of the word phrase: “Make ends meet.”

  134. Hi Marina!
    I’m wondering what’s the origin behind “Spelling Bee”
    Why is it called a spelling bee?

  135. It’s not a word! “Duh” is a sound like uh, um, er, eh, ick, ack, aw. The giant in the Bugs Bunny cartoon was intended to sound stupid by the “duh” he used. A teacher of mine said when you say uh, youi’re just making noise with your mouth before you’ve thought of the words you want to say.

    BTW, Marina, I’d love to hear you say the words, “Kill moose and squirrel.” Has someone else asked already?

  136. eastcoast says:

    Hi Marina:

    Your video on “Duh” made me wonder where the word “Dork” came
    from. I am working on my genealogy.

    Thanks,

    Eastcoast

  137. Ты мой любимый учитель! Я мог бы узнать что-либо!

  138. Вы покинули хорошие домашние

  139. largeguy says:

    We all know that the word “southpaw” means someone who is left handed. Why southpaw? I was told it is an old baseball term.?.?

  140. jnaples says:

    I don’t know if your therory is right on this word but I do know that you have the sexist lips on the planet. Yeah, I know. No kidding? Duh?

  141. sniperskaya says:

    Duh? Why not? Da makes as much sense as any other and it sounds MUCH better coming from you , Marina!
    By the way, do you think that the Russian word “Nyet/нет” could be a contraction of the English words “Not yet”? :razz:

  142. I’d like to know the origin of the music genre “rock ‘n roll.” Can you tell me when it weas first used and who used it first.

  143. sirfluffy says:

    What about the word “orange”? Which meaning came first: color or fruit? If color came first why didn’t the carrot get the orange name?

  144. mynameisnedd says:

    MARINA!!! What is the origin of the word “CHICK” in how it changed from a baby chicken to referring to a young girl :?: As in all the girls went to a “CHICK FLICK”. Thanks a lot :!: :!:

  145. hnda_fan89 says:

    Marina, could you find out the origin and history of the word, “Gay” please? Thanks so much!

  146. carlojlf says:

    Hello Marina linda, Im asking if you can search the origin of the word NEWS, thank you

    Carlos

  147. silentminja says:

    Well, I thought I might request the origin of the word, Annotation.
    :grin:

  148. hellsing4896 says:

    hey HotForWords can you give us the origin of the word weapon.

  149. dfannin43 says:

    Marina!! Hey its me david! I just thought that I would let you know that I sooooooooo requested the word “duh” like months ago! I think it was in April. You should check your files. Anyways I think I deserve a shout out or something. Ive already been teachers pet, but you could give me a shout out! right? =) I deserve a little credit! Anyways thanks marina! bye!

  150. trgoblin says:

    Maybe the origin comes from the sounds stupid people make when they don’t know the answer to a question….. “uhm” “duh” “uhm” “duh” …. or maybe from the word
    Dumb….”Duh – m”

    So when something is obvious…. “duh” implies they are “Dum” D-U-M – ha ha …. :grin:

  151. mutarum says:

    Greetings,

    I don’t know if you’re still around or not Charlie Brown. But the other Seven are in a book written by Napoleon Hill.

    As for the word “Duh”, Well Professor I must agree with your intuition and insight on the origin of the word. Seems more than logical and rational to me. Therefore I agree.

    I would like to request the origin of the word “Success”

    Thankyou Very Much,

    Murat O. Suleiman

  152. temerc says:

    How about the word ‘nimrod’, where did that come from?

  153. wetsuit5 says:

    How very cool.
    HotForWords has mastered her profession so well that the logical and reasonable etymology just comes naturally to her.
    The “Dah” to “Duh” is just a Duh!!
    So “Duh” is just a word that describes itself.
    I wonder if “Do Dah”, as in Camptown Races, has anything to contribute.
    So Dah = Yes = Duh = Obvious
    This is getting to be a little Who’s on First?

    By the way, can’t tell if that was a dress or just a top but it looked really nice.
    (Clothes modeled by Marina looking nice, Another DUH!!)

  154. ecmpain says:

    Where does the word coach come from? And what is the relation between a coach(person) and coach (a bus)

  155. hipreb says:

    It would be really interesting if you made a lesson about the word amount. Without doing any research, I have the feeling that it means something ‘big’ because it is a shortened version of the word mountain, and… mountains are usually very big! And why do we have mount in a word meant to describe how MUCH something is? You’re the best!

    - HiPreb

  156. umbaflicks says:

    Hey Marina!

    As you know from YouTube and here, our name is UmbaFlicks.

    I was wondering the origin of the term “Flick”, and how it came to mean “Movie” or “Film”

    Thank you so much, and keep up the hard work on your videos :smile:

    -UmbaFlicks

  157. pedanticKarl says:

    Hello My Dear Teacher,
    For my homework assignment, I would speculate as follows:

    The expression “Duh” or “Dah” seems most likely to come from the Russian and least likely to come from the Germanic languages “Ja”.
    Not sure how the “Ja” would morph into “Duh”.

    On YT, someone said;

    “… it might be german because americans had a lot of unfortunate contact with germans during the 1940-60.”

    Within this context, perhaps “Duh” could have come from the German word “Du” (pronounced doo), meaning “you”. Perhaps, colloquially, meaning, “Yes, you” or “Of course, you”.

    If I remember correctly, in “Blazing Saddles”, as the Sheriff was leaving Lilly Von Schtupp’s dressing room, she held on to him and said, “Du, Du, Du” (couldn’t find that scene), meaning, “Yes you, you are the one.”

    Another theory could be the Ta-Da, fanfare sound, which became shortened to “Da”?

    • Man! On your toes!
      Hey guys – he’s no slouch!
      Potential TA material

      “What a nice guy” Lilli von Stupp :mrgreen:

    • lostforwords says:

      “Du” is the familiar second person pronoun in German. The formal is “ihr. You use du with lovers and family, or used to. So when she says: “du, du, du…” in the movie, this means a line of intimacy has been crossed. In French, there is the same thing between “tu” and “vous”, or there used to be. Nowadays things are much looser. In France, wives used to call their husbands vous–you can hear this in old movies; vous is the formal way to refer to someone with a “you” type pronoun. In Spanish, the formal us “usted”, the familiar is in the verb ending–you use the second person singular. In English, this distinction used to exist, “thou” was the familiar second person pronoun you would use to speak to your lover, spouse or family. However, we gave it up. I don’t know anything about Russian, but I do know that it is a more complex language than French, Italian, or Spanish, and even more complex than German, which makes the previous languages seem easy. So I would suspect that there has to be a similar difference between formal and familiar second person pronouns in Russian.

  158. GREG says:

    I always thought it was the sound a moron make when thinking want to say…duh that not funny. duh want’s she say? People are just mocking the moron. duh I know. duh you …what?
    And when a nubee comes in ( duh …can you do the origin of F~CK. ).
    Doesn’t it mean; You must think I am stupid. ie duh!

    RRR
    duhbert

  159. You might be right about how Edgar Bergen went from Ja to Duh as it shows in this video of him and Mortimer Snerd.

    But I think that’s only part of it since it didn’t start out with any of the sarcastic part that seemed to be added later. “Yes, obviously” leaves out the “don’t be an idiot” part of Duh! that people include in it now.

    As far as I can remember that part was added in the 1950′s on the Leave it to Beaver Show when Tony Dow used it with the sarcasm to Jerry Mathers.

  160. lipsynctay says:

    Hi, Marina! I am would like to request these two words, smile & what

  161. snarkbutt says:

    Mesuspects that lostforwords is correct. This seems like the most simple answer is correct, and that ‘duh’ is supposed to sound like an ignorant or stupid sound of confusion or whayevs, hence the exaggerated Duuuurrrrrr! (often with a squeal or gestures which remind one of down syndrome, though infinitely exaggerated.

  162. lovesixx89 says:

    Hello Ms. Marina,

    I was wondering where we got the term”Rock&Roll” from?, because I am obsessed with that genre of music

    Love, Amber

  163. lostforwords says:

    Marina,

    I think your theory is quite plausible. But, I also think “duh” means you’re stupid or dumb–that’s why you’re stating the obvious. So duh is the kind of sound a stupid person makes like “Uhh…” So it’s an onomatopoeic word, sorta.

    As I said I would, here is the answer to my earlier question, which was: can you guess, Marina, which famous actress it is that looks like you?

    Now before I give the link giving the answer, I want say that the similarity I see in her face, not her body. There is an air of resemblance between you. The following person is pretty zaftig; she does have that lean worked out look you have at all. I think she doesn’t got the gym enough and eats too much bread and pasta!

    Oh, okay, I used another word you might tell us about: “zaftig.” Is it a german word? What are its roots?

    Anyway, for the answer to my question, please click below–maybe you’ll be on the cover of Esquire before too long, who knows?!:

    http://i28.tinypic.com/2q9j1uf.jpg

    Moowah!

    lostforwords

  164. jarkaruus says:

    Interesting word. Well, I did cheat a bit and did some looking around online. I have to say I don’t think the word “duh” had it’s origins in the words for yes in Russian, Irish, or any other language. I suppose it could be possible, but I’m having a hard time going from words that mean yes to a word that means obviously or something like that.

    What may be more likely is that this word developed from other such words like umm or err. These words usually are uttered by someone involved in conversation when they are grasping for the right word to say…**something I do often…hangs head in shame**. It could also have developed as a derogatory variation on the sound that slow or unintelligent people make when speaking…..as in “hi, my name is..uuuhhhh…Mike…yea, that’s my name”. So duh could also be meant as a derogatory term to indicate that someone is stupid, slow, or unintelligent.

    Well that’s my two….uhhhh….cents..yea…two cents…. :roll:

  165. aafrophone says:

    you should do a video in russian.

  166. Lividemerald is going to be so happy… :mrgreen:
    Him? above the other 7 million of us?
    credit where credit’s due – Congrats!

    Mortimer Snerd and Charlie McCarthy, wow!
    Candy’s daddy invented – duh?
    I believe it! Marina’s guess sounds
    quite reasonable. 5 stars!

    • GREG says:

      Oh ma’god Chacha she is listening to us. ( nubee requests )

      • Yeah man! there’s even hope for you, now!!
        Just quit scaring the straights…LMAO :mrgreen:

      • GREG says:

        I like the straights as much as you.. But I am severely hopeless.
        I am a chronic tool.

      • RoadToad

        A chronic tool is an accurate description. Descending upon anyone who displays some naivete, a disparate ideology, or whose typing is less than perfect like a cowflop cream pie out of the blue gets tiresome real quick when it’s consistently you whose garbled transmissions require the most “creative interpretation” (IF they can be understood at all). Do you ever go back and actually look at the miles of spew you generate? Try reading it. It isn’t entertaining. Jumping all down peoples throats because they aren’t you and they don’t have your viewpoint is unwelcome and unfortunate as well as unnecessary. Might be you could give it a rest.

      • Now let’s be fair about this.
        We all spew from time to time
        Whether it is incomplete thoughts
        or manic rambling. RRR has to
        get it out or it will be stuck inside
        him, and he needs to get it out. :mrgreen:

      • GREG says:

        PT9y
        Well what can I say but , Truck Driver/Cowboys are not known for being as highly intellectual as someone as you. Though I did not realize I was talking over your head. I just took for granite that you were in on it with my teasing.
        If my eccentric foolish banter makes you a cranky bedlamite, don’t read it. I’ll let you know that I am being sarcastic so you don’t misunderstand and pass by. OK?

        But if you Personally have a problem , I am much better at that handling that like a Truck Driver. Could be fun too, But I am here for shits and giggles not cracking heads. Lighten up and play nice ..or not :twisted:

        RRR
        Yours sardonically,

      • PageDoll says:

        SOCal would probably be right. I’ve seen a particular “park” in a few lessons and the dog video…I know that park. :grin:

      • GREG says:

        Did you see the party at lisanova’s the people there looked L.A or bouts.

      • Captain Jack says:

        RR No I think I saw someone with a SF tattoo on their arm or something. And some of the bushes can only survive in Nor Cal.

      • PageDoll says:

        LAers for sure!…Or Hell. A. as I like to call it. :razz:

    • Captain Jack says:

      Yea speaking of Lividemerald. Where is he? :???:

      • PageDoll says:

        I don’t know! But hes going to flip out as soon as he shows up! :eek:

      • Prospero811 is also MIA. Did the KGB come and get him, too? LOL :mrgreen:

      • Captain Jack says:

        They might have. I don’t trust those shifty eye little bastards. :mrgreen:

      • lividemerald says:

        CaptainJack, we’re well into August, and I’ve been extremely busy with evening classes, closing out the school year, and a million other stress-inducing tasks that have kept me away from my dear Marina for over a month. I’ll be catching up this week. I really, really miss being here. Wow! I didn’t expect to hear Marina address a word in behalf of LividEmerald. What an honor! I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to finally get back into the swing of things!

      • Captain Jack says:

        LividEmerald, I see your point. I teach to and soon to start my own evening classes. I can take up much of your time. Welcome back LividEmerald! You where missed as you can tell.

      • lividemerald says:

        Thanks, CaptainJack. I just completed my first year of teaching First Grade. In order to qualify to do this, I had to begin taking evening courses (Alternate Route to Licensure), which was open to people who already had at least a Bachelor’s degree in a subject related to education. Well, I had an M.A. in French Lit, so I qualified for the program. I began teaching late August 2007 after having begun the ARL program in January 2007. I’m teaching on a provisional Nevada license. As soon as I finish my ARL courses this December, I will gain my permanent license to teach. In the meantime, and for over a year now, I am both a student and a teacher. July was VERY busy. This particular evening class was giving me huge amounts of work. At the same time, I was finishing up the school year, and that required a lot of paperwork, filing, classroom checkout procedures, etc. I wish you luck on your evening classes which you will be teaching soon. Anyway, thanks again for the kind note.

      • Captain Jack says:

        Wow that sound like a lot of hoops to jump through. I was asked to teach and only had to fill out an application. I’ve taught 3 nine day classes (which are the hardest to teach) already. And get this, its for a federal license. Its interesting how some regulations are stricter than others.
        I wish you the best of luck and hope you your get your permanent license. :mrgreen:

    • GREG says:

      Chacha,
      You get my swing. ” Manic and scattered.”
      It has not all gone for not. Some, not so amused.
      Like dark beer, a little sharp, heavy and dark.
      Isn’t there room for us all? Sweet and Sour.
      Ying and Yang. Twisted and Straight.
      I try and make you think. Like, “What in the hell….??
      Oh, oh, I get it now.”
      Innuendos, double entendre, halfamizusms. Mixed idioms.
      People tend to get mad when they don’t understand you.
      I think this is why most hate Mexicans, They can’t understand
      what they are saying. \\ see ? all over the place, dizzying //..

      RRR
      Spanglishican

      • I did the trucker/wild indian lifestyle
        for awhile after the military so I do
        feel what you’re saying.
        Not to many Mexicans in Fla
        but we do have many Cuban,
        Peruvian, Uruaguayan, Chilean,
        Brazilian, Venezualean, Colombian,
        Nicaraguan, etc. exiles and
        immigrants. It sucks ass that
        many refuse to integrate.
        They call ME Pepe Julo!
        (That’s the boogeyman
        to you and me).

      • Hey sorry, don’t take it personally. To be honest, I read your comments just like everyone elses’ and I don’t plan to stop enjoying them; often as not they are funny and original. But many of your comments and replies have developed an abrasive quality.

        Some people plumb do not respond well to that.
        Just my opinion.

      • buzzword says:

        what the fuck do you mean melikadotheCHACHA, i mean you do realize you have the word chacha in your nick? you refer to doing, “the trucker/wild INDIAN lifestyle” what a fucking hypocrite! what do you mean “it sucks ass that many refuse to inergrate”? last time i checked this was the u.s. of a. how many states and cities have foreign names. speaking of language how much of english ain’t english. why does it suck ass? exactly, what terrible hardship does it cause you? just because they do not change to accommodate you. who the fuck are you to make such demands?

    • lividemerald says:

      Yes, melikadothechacha, I am very happy. But also sad that I haven’t had time to check out Marina’s web site for a over a month. I’m catching up this week. Finally. I had a killer evening class, and closing out the elementary school year for the first time (I am a new teacher) was quite a chore. Anyway, I’m back!

      • Congrats on the teaching job!
        You have missed a month of
        flame wars, which are STILL
        raging. It has been out of hand.
        You may want to be more careful
        than usual. Fair warning, darlin’!
        (yes, i figured out you are a girl – LOL!) :mrgreen:

      • lividemerald says:

        melikadothechacha, I’ll try to be careful. By the time I get caught up on the videos (I don’t know if it’s my virtual memory or Cox being incredibly slow, but the videos are stop and go every four or five words), the “flame wars” will probably have come to some kind of peaceful resolution. Oh, I really hate to disappoint you. But I can assure you that I am a guy, not a girl. Thanks for the congrats. I have one year of teaching under my belt now. And I’m a student, too. So that’s why I’ve been so incredibly busy of late. But I have a little time off now to catch up on the videos, and post a comment here and there.

  167. xrisos says:

    also can you tell me how many words english have taken from greek and latin??????

  168. hi! id like to know the origin of the word blonde. as in the hair color.

  169. xrisos says:

    request:how about the word fantasia …?i believe it has greek roots

  170. pedanticKarl says:

    I’m ashamed to admit it….

    First!!!! :mrgreen:

Author: HotForWords

Not your typical philologist! Putting the LOL in PhiLOLogy :-)