# Origin of the newbie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 13, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902 "2001-01-13T21:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wbricks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f17d59/32.png) [@wbricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wbricks)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/1 "2001-01-13T21:23:59Z")
Is “newbie” a word invented by internet users, or was it a word rarely used but that caught on because of the internet? It’s a word in the American (and probably English) language now I assume as I hear people being called “newbies” or just “newbs” all the time (e.g. “God this line is so slow! You just had to pick the newbie cashier, didn’t you?”) I know there are other internet words, but they escape me right now. Where did “newbie” come from? HoW aBoUt TyPiNg EvErY oThEr LeTtEr In CaPs? 0r sp3ll1ng w0rdz w1th numb3rz @nd $ymb0lz, @nd u$1ng z 1n$t3@d 0f “s”? ---
**Author:** ![AWOL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@AWOL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWOL)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/2 "2001-01-13T22:16:09Z")
Newbie can’t be traced, because it’s an old Dutch common ending applied to many things. Cook -\> Cookie. Wook -\> Wookie. Pea -\> …etc. ---
**Author:** ![AWOL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@AWOL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWOL)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/3 "2001-01-13T22:21:43Z")
The part about misspelling has two distinct sources. Rappers use odd spellings because they actually can’t spell. **But more important** The thing with programming is you have to create words for your variables that aren’t part of the syntax. When some languages like Basic started adding keywords by the hundreds as functions, coders were forced to misspell any variable name or add digits just to avoid compilation errors. The same is true of misc. capitals. They create a distinct name in Unix. (Not DOS) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/4 "2001-01-15T00:33:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A W O L \* > \*\*Newbie can’t be traced, because it’s an old Dutch common ending applied to many things. Cook -\> Cookie. Wook -\> Wookie. Pea -\> …etc. \*\* If that’s the case, then it’s _based_ on a Dutch common ending, which is “-je” or “-tje”. In spoken language, the “-ie” ending occurs. Personally, I doubt that words like “Newbie” have a Dutch origin. I think it’s just English, with the odd spelling tossed in for the heck of it. ---
**Author:** ![Short](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Short](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/5 "2001-01-15T03:43:51Z")
“mommy where do newbies come from?” Entirely a WAG, but perhaps a combonation of “Kiddie” and “New.” Why the “b,” and not “d” you ask? Say it with a “d” and find out. Or maybe kiddie is part of th same “ie-ending phenomenon.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-newbie/49902/6 "2001-01-15T04:26:11Z")
According to the [Jargon File](http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/) entry for [newbie](http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/newbie.html): > [@](#): > > orig. from British public-school and military slang variant of `new boy’] A Usenet neophyte. This term surfaced in the newsgroup talk.bizarre but is now in wide use (the combination “clueless newbie” is especially common). Regarding idiots who intentionally misspell things, see what the Jargon file has to say about [lamer speak](http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/Lamer-speak.html).