# hebrew speakers - are you offended by Microsoft's profanity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278 "2006-10-20T20:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/1 "2006-10-20T20:57:38Z")
> **[Industry](https://www.computerworld.com/industry/)** > > Industry | News, analysis, features, how-tos, and videos > [@](#): > > Microsoft Zune: Doesn’t sound sweet to everyone > IDG News Service 10/18/06 > > Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service, London Bureau > > Microsoft’s forthcoming digital music player, dubbed Zune, may make some Hebrew speakers gasp. The name for the device – which will take on the Apple iPod when released later this year – sounds like a vulgarity, specifically the “f” word, in Hebrew. Is this the straight dope? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/2 "2006-10-20T21:28:53Z")
Does the standard pronunciation of “FAQ” trouble English speakers? It’s about as close. That said, I wouldn’t name my product Faq or Fug or anything similar for an English-speaking market. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/3 "2006-10-20T22:17:33Z")
I think it’s some sort of federally mandated law that any marketing textbook and/or story about a company working in foreign markets has to include the apocryphal “The Chevy Nova failed in Spanish-speaking countries since ‘no va’ means ‘no go’ in Spanish” story in it. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/4 "2006-10-20T22:26:55Z")
I like this quote found via Google News ([link](http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=16202&Page=1&pagePos=5)): > [@](#): > > In September, French-speaking Canadians noted that the word ‘Zune’ is a euphemism for male or female genitalia in the Quebec area. I thought I was worldly-wise, but clearly not…maybe somebody could guide this poor fool, and explain how to identify the ‘quebec area’, and exactly what genitalia I will encounter therein? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/5 "2006-10-20T22:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > exactly what genitalia I will encounter therein? Duh! “male and female”! ---
**Author:** ![Lynwood\_Slim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Lynwood\_Slim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynwood_Slim)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/6 "2006-10-21T03:23:53Z")
I speak hebrew and know many other Hebrew speakers and it does not offend. The Hebrew word for sexual intercourse is “zee-yoon”. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/7 "2006-10-21T03:40:49Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] Does the standard pronunciation of “FAQ” trouble English speakers? It’s about as close. That said, I wouldn’t name my product Faq or Fug or anything similar for an English-speaking market. [/QUOTE] But FAQ is pronounced as the acronym. I don’t know of anyone who pronounces it as a word. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/8 "2006-10-21T03:59:40Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] But FAQ is pronounced as the acronym. I don’t know of anyone who pronounces it as a word. [/QUOTE] You really have never heard someone say “fac” or something like it, rather than “eff aye queue”? I find that rather astounding. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/9 "2006-10-21T04:21:46Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] But FAQ is pronounced as the acronym. I don’t know of anyone who pronounces it as a word. [/QUOTE] ‘Acronym’ means pronounce it as a word. The word you’re looking for is ‘abbreviation’. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/10 "2006-10-21T04:25:46Z")
Huh. I’ve never heard anyone say “ef ay que,” only “fak.” Ever, since 1987. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/11 "2006-10-21T14:55:13Z")
IMHO thread: [Just the F.A.Q.'s, ma’am (pronunciation)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=393077) ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/12 "2006-10-21T17:14:38Z")
Not offended. It doesn’t really sound similar – there’s no way that a Hebrew speaker will hear _zoon_ and think _Zee-yoon_; there are simply too many extra vowels, and the root Z(OO)N has several other possible meanings (including “food” and “weapon”) More likely a Hebrew speaker will not the similarity between “zoon” and “zoom” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/13 "2006-10-21T17:25:22Z")
also, -it isn’t as obscene in Hebrew as it seems. The word that sounds sort of (but not exactly) like “Zune” is NOT the equivalent of the English “f-word”. A better translation would be “to screw” or “get laid”. So it’s not quite as obscene, even if I still wouldnt recommend using it in business. But in any case, most Hebrew speakers wouldnt care. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/14 "2006-10-21T17:36:35Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] I like this quote found via Google News ([link](http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=16202&Page=1&pagePos=5)): > [@](#): > > In September, French-speaking Canadians noted that the word ‘Zune’ is a euphemism for male or female genitalia in the Quebec area. I thought I was worldly-wise, but clearly not…maybe somebody could guide this poor fool, and explain how to identify the ‘quebec area’, and exactly what genitalia I will encounter therein? [/QUOTE] What ISN’T a euphemism for some manner of genitalia or other, somewhere in the world? Won’t anyone think of the Richard Johnsons of the world? How about people named Wang? How about people named Dong? Etc… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/15 "2006-10-21T17:39:44Z")
I sometimes administer a test called the Woodcock-Johnson, and have worked on a psychiatric ward called the Johnson Unit. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/16 "2006-10-21T19:50:28Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] You really have never heard someone say “fac” or something like it, rather than “eff aye queue”? [/QUOTE] What’s an FIQ? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/17 "2006-10-21T20:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=chappachula] also, -it isn’t as obscene in Hebrew as it seems. The word that sounds sort of (but not exactly) like “Zune” is NOT the equivalent of the English “f-word”. A better translation would be “to screw” or “get laid”. [/QUOTE] No, it means “fuck” (the noun, to be specific). It’s just that Israelis aren’t that touchy when it comes to obscenities. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/18 "2006-10-21T21:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] What’s an FIQ? [/QUOTE] :D:D So, when may I expect a new keyboard from you? :D:D FWIW, when iI read FAQ, I “hear” in my mind “fack” to rhyme with stack or quack The name of the product discussed in this thread, to me, is pronounced “zoon” to rhyme with prune or soon. I used to speak Hebrew (I can still read it at services but don’t ask me to translate) and I never heard that word as slang or a vulgarity, or even at all for that matter. But thanks for teaching me a new one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/19 "2006-10-21T21:50:36Z")
The British pronunciation of zune (zyoon) comes closer to the Hebrew “ziyoon”, so you never know. [QUOTE=Noone Special] the root Z(OO)N has several other possible meanings (including “food” and “weapon”) [/QUOTE] Amos Oz describes brilliantly in his autobiography _A Tale of Love and Darkness_ how as a young lad he attended a speech by Menachem Begin, and couldn’t keep a straight face when Begin spoke earnestly about having to ‘_arm_ the nation’, clearly oblivious to the more common use of the word. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278/20 "2006-10-21T22:03:09Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] No, it means “fuck” (the noun, to be specific). It’s just that Israelis aren’t that touchy when it comes to obscenities. [/QUOTE] So, there isn’t a harsher or more derogatory term in Hebrew for “fuck”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-speakers-are-you-offended-by-microsofts-profanity/377278.md?page=2)