# Listen up- there is no such word as "Walaa"! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 28, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516 "2004-04-28T17:15:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/1 "2004-04-28T17:15:06Z")
[SUB](an excerpt from my mental abuse of people who post on another forum I visit)[/SUB] Also, “wha laa” is a meaningless phrase. It doesn’t exist. To quote the great Inigo, “I do not think that word means what you think it means.” “Voilà” is, I believe, the word you’re looking for. Please, please, PLEASE, for the love of all things holy, if you don’t know how a word is spelled, either look it up or don’t freakin’ use it! ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/2 "2004-04-28T17:16:52Z")
Furthermore, it should be Voilà Voilà, Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/3 "2004-04-28T17:20:09Z")
Also, it is not “viola,” as I have occasionally seen on these august boards. The viola is a musical instrument often played by such un-fascinating people as the lady I went out with on Mediocre Date #6 last year. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/4 "2004-04-28T17:27:06Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Also, it is not “viola,” as I have occasionally seen on these august boards. The viola is a musical instrument often played by such un-fascinating people as the lady I went out with on Mediocre Date #6 last year. I occasionally say “viola” just to be different. I used it yesterday in a thread, and then immediately was besieged by people admonishing me for not saying “voila.” Ahhh, the power of the internet. All the thoughts with none of the inflection. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/5 "2004-04-28T18:07:31Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > [SUB](an excerpt from my mental abuse of people who post on another forum I visit)[/SUB] > > Also, “wha laa” is a meaningless phrase. It doesn’t exist. To quote the great Inigo, “I do not think that word means what you think it means.” > > “Voilà” is, I believe, the word you’re looking for. Please, please, PLEASE, for the love of all things holy, if you don’t know how a word is spelled, either look it up or don’t freakin’ use it! I could be wrong, but I imagine you are being whooshed. Many, MANY people pronounce it “walaa” simply because they know it’s incorrect, and they’re trying to be funny or clever. So it’s not so much that they don’t know how it’s spelled, it’s that they’re doing it on purpose. I’d suggest some thicker skin. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/6 "2004-04-28T18:27:57Z")
Can I share with you an email I got today? Emphasis mine: > [@](#): > > It’s a Boy! > Come help us celebrate the new _edition_ to _the Jane Doe’s Family_. > Thursday, May 6, 2004 > Conference Room C1 > 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm > We’re collecting for a gift card. If you would like to donate, please give your donation to [names omitted]. Jane is registered at _Baby’s R Us_ and Target. > Thank you and we hope to see you there! This was supposedly written by an office professional. One who obviously needs a proofreader. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/7 "2004-04-28T18:47:41Z")
Then there are the people who pronounce “beaucoup” as “boo-coo.” Q: What did the idiot say when he won the lottery? A: Walaa! Boo-coo bucks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/8 "2004-04-28T18:53:37Z")
Y’all missed the memo… “Woot!” is now the official choice of surprised expression. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/9 "2004-04-28T18:54:47Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Then there are the people who pronounce “beaucoup” as “boo-coo.” > Q: What did the idiot say when he won the lottery? > A: Walaa! Boo-coo bucks! Correction: It should be “Walaa! Boo-coo buck\*\*’\*\*s!” ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/10 "2004-04-28T19:51:14Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Correction: It should be “Walaa! Boo-coo buck\*\*’\*\*s!” Shit. Damn English degree follows … uh, I mean follow’s, me everywhere! ---
**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:** [April 28, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/11 "2004-04-28T19:56:21Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > Listen up- there is no such word as “Walaa”! Whadayamean there’s no such word as “Walla”? (OK, so the site’s in Hebrew and you can’t read it… but the name appears in English as well. Oh, and it’s probably the #1 or #2 Portal in Israel, so it very definitely exists) > [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > Y’all missed the memo… > > “Woot!” is now the official choice of surprised expression. **And** the word “Walla!” is actually basterdized Arabic, meaning (at least as used in Hebrew), well… something like “Woot!” This post has been brought to you by “Truth is Stranger than Fiction” Dani ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/12 "2004-04-28T20:43:21Z")
In the South, my relatives often referred to having “boo-coos” of things. “He got boo-coos and boo-coos of presents for Christmas, didn’t he?” It wasn’t until 10th grade French that my brain connected the two. ---
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/13 "2004-04-28T21:29:23Z")
Moi, je m’en fîche. Cet argotisme anglais «wa la» m’amuse bien. Quoique je sache bien que c’est «voilà,» j’aime bien dire «wa la» parfois. Mais jamais quand je parle français, bien sûr! À l’autre main, je ne dis jamais «boucou,» comme on dit. Je ne dis jamais «beaucoup» quand je parle anglais non plus; j’ai horreur de cet argotisme. Je comprend que ce n’est que ton bête noir, **Lightnin’**. Malgré que je haïs «boucou,» je peux supporter «wa la.» Je parie que **Munch** a raison: il s’agit de développer de la chair plus épaise. Quand-même, j’ai beaucoup de bêtes noirs linguistiques, moi, et j’arrive à peine de les excuser moi-même! Sans doute je n’ai point t’aidé. Désolé. Je te conseille de suivre mon exemple: quand quelqu’un _doit_ utiliser un de ces choses agaçantes, donne-le une chataîgne! Ça ne va pas arrêter ces cochonneries, mais tu sentiras plus content! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/14 "2004-04-28T21:49:50Z")
I was recently told that a point was mute. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/15 "2004-04-28T21:51:50Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > The viola is a musical instrument often played by such un-fascinating people… Hey… I’m fascinating. Really, I am. Well, okay, at least I try to be. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/16 "2004-04-28T22:34:52Z")
Anybody who says “walaa” is prolly a real looser… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/17 "2004-04-28T22:40:32Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I was recently told that a point was mute. Well? The point wasn’t actually _speaking_, was it? ---
**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:** [April 28, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/18 "2004-04-28T23:30:19Z")
Yeah, my skin crawls when I hear someone say: wha-LAH! But… to put a scientific spin on this, adults often do not hear sounds that are not native to their language. The consonant pair “vw” simply is not found in English, and so some people might not hear (or not hear well) the actual french pronunciation. Reminds me of when I was in China trying to learn a few words. Chinese person: Say [what sound to me like] “ZHR” me: “ZHR” CP: No, it’s “ZHR” me: “ZHR”? CP: Let’s try another word… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/19 "2004-04-29T00:33:20Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I was recently told that a point was mute. That one has caused me to shove my paw into the air during a meeting. It’s **moot** which rhymes with **boot** which I’ll insert in your **toot** unless you arrest this obstreperous vitiation of the language. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516/20 "2004-04-29T01:05:46Z")
_On Married - With Children, Kelly and Bud succeed in picking a lock._ **Kelly** (opening the lock): Viola! **Bud** : That’s “voilà,” Kel. **Kelly** : Look, I failed Spanish, all right? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/listen-up-there-is-no-such-word-as-walaa/242516.md?page=2)