# Moo-ha-ha vs. bwa-ha-ha **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298 "2009-02-17T18:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/1 "2009-02-17T18:16:27Z")
I feel they convey completely different meanings. The former expresses villainy and the latter derision. That’s my story. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/2 "2009-02-17T18:23:02Z")
I agree, except I always do the villainous one as “mwa-ha-ha” and to be truly derisive the other should be “BWA-HA-HA!” ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/3 "2009-02-17T18:25:46Z")
Yes, two very different meanings. When my arch-nemesis falls into my diabolical trap: “Mwa-ha-ha!” When my arch-nemesis’ mom falls on a sheet of ice: “Bwa-ha-ha!” When my arch-nemesis’ cow falls off a cliff: “Moo-ha-ha!” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/4 "2009-02-17T18:28:34Z")
Ah, the old mwa- versus moo- conundrum. I thought this had been debunked years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/5 "2009-02-17T18:34:46Z")
To encircle the phenomenon, we have, at the other end of the spectrum, tee-hee, snort and hmpf. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/6 "2009-02-17T18:37:47Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ah, the old mwa- versus moo- conundrum. I thought this had been debunked years ago. Perhaps, but I’m a creature of habit, and I’ll be "mwa-ha-ha"ing until I’m old and gray- although my days of villainy are mostly over. **Zeldar** , what about **snicker**? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/7 "2009-02-17T18:53:51Z")
Yes, and you forgot _snerk_ as well! ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/8 "2009-02-17T18:55:25Z")
And what of brew ha ha? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/9 "2009-02-17T18:56:48Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > **Zeldar** , what about **snicker**? Oh, to be sure. My best work buddy was always referring to chortle and cavort. A kid we used to mock had this “knnk-knnk-knnk” thing that usually provoked a sharp rap on his upper arm – when we were being merciful. An unvoiced cackle/giggle/chuckle, with head thrown back and lots of body movement, but no sound, can be very effective for displaying maximum contempt. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/10 "2009-02-17T18:57:04Z")
he he he You guys… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/11 "2009-02-17T19:00:03Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Perhaps, but I’m a creature of habit, and I’ll be "mwa-ha-ha"ing until I’m old and gray- although my days of villainy are mostly over. > > **Zeldar** , what about **snicker**? So the fact that “mwa” and “bwa” sound very similar hasn’t caused you problems amongst the hard of hearing? A misunderstood preface could result in a painful punch in the mouth or in somebody not paying the rent. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/12 "2009-02-17T19:01:07Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > And what of brew ha ha? Ah, I see your point. A “moo-ha-ha” could be miscontrued as a bovine donnybrook. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/13 "2009-02-17T19:04:38Z")
My favorite is the short but sweet “heh.” So much disdain in such a small word. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/14 "2009-02-17T19:09:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So the fact that “mwa” and “bwa” sound very similar hasn’t caused you problems amongst the hard of hearing? A misunderstood preface could result in a painful punch in the mouth or in somebody not paying the rent. Not at all; it’s all in the body language. The “mwa-ha-ha” is usually delivered while rubbing my hands, and with a sneer. The “bwa-ha-ha” is usually louder, with the mouth more open, the head tilted back, and a derisive sideways glance. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/15 "2009-02-17T19:09:42Z")
“Moo-ha-ha?” Is our villain a mutant cow? I’ll accept “muah-ha-ha” or perhaps “mwa-ha-ha,” even though the second one looks more like shorthand for the kissing onotamopoeia and you really don’t want to confuse those two. I agree that “bwa-ha-ha” is more derisive. The “bwa” should probably be capitalized. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/16 "2009-02-17T19:29:36Z")
> [@Tupug\_Anachi](#): > > My favorite is the short but sweet “heh.” So much disdain in such a small word. In stark contrast, consider Brando’s “HAH HAH” in _A Streetcar Named Desire_ where he literally screams it at Blanche and/or Stella in one his more demonstrative outbursts. It’s so very effective in an otherwise quiet and sedate surroundings when the purpose of the outburst is far removed in seriousness from the laugh itself. It might cause others to faint or soil themselves. To be reserved for “just the right moment” as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/17 "2009-02-17T19:30:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > “Moo-ha-ha?” Is our villain a mutant cow? I’ll accept “muah-ha-ha” or perhaps “mwa-ha-ha,” even though **the second one looks more like shorthand for the kissing onotamopoeia and you really don’t want to confuse those two.** I agree that “bwa-ha-ha” is more derisive. The “bwa” should probably be capitalized. [_Bolding mine_] Good point; however, the additional “ha-ha” should be enough to eliminate any confusion. But “muah-ha-ha” is probably better. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/18 "2009-02-17T19:38:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ah, I see your point. A “moo-ha-ha” could be miscontrued as a bovine donnybrook. [This](http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/animal/1999/cow_kills_driver_in_california.html)is a moo-ha-ha. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/19 "2009-02-17T19:41:58Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Good point; however, the additional “ha-ha” should be enough to eliminate any confusion. Yes, but that moment of hesitation would deflate the impact of the laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298/20 "2009-02-17T20:46:10Z")
What about ‘mua-ha-ha’? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moo-ha-ha-vs-bwa-ha-ha/486298.md?page=2)