# Please explain "teh" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000 "2006-10-11T01:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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 11, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/1 "2006-10-11T01:06:45Z")
I understand “all your base are belong to us” and “im in ur base killin ur d00dz.” I understand that “teh” is “the” typed incorrectly. What I do not know is how to interpret it (for example, when used in a phrase such as “teh Republicans”). “Teh” is, of course, a 3-letter word and therefore unsearchable-for on this august and mighty board. Please enlighten. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/2 "2006-10-11T01:14:02Z")
It’s really just “the.” Substituting “the” every time you see “teh” won’t change the meaning, it just won’t be as leet. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/3 "2006-10-11T01:16:18Z")
In particular, “teh” for “the” implies rapid typing and mushbrained, populist leanings. It also implies “internet” as opposed to “educated, thinking, writing.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/4 "2006-10-11T01:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=Master Wang-Ka] It also implies “internet” as opposed to “educated, thinking, writing.” [/QUOTE] It implies no such thing. It _screams_ it. Loudly and persistently. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/5 "2006-10-11T01:28:19Z")
[QUOTE=Master Wang-Ka] In particular, “teh” for “the” implies rapid typing and mushbrained, populist leanings. It also implies “internet” as opposed to “educated, thinking, writing.” [/QUOTE] I think you mean the “intarweb.” ---
**Author:** ![Mandarax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mandarax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandarax)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/6 "2006-10-11T02:48:02Z")
[Teh Master Speeks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030110.html). (While he doesn’t mention “teh” specifically, it seems to be a basic component of leetspeek). ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/7 "2006-10-11T03:21:44Z")
If you type in “teh” instead of “the” to make some kind of statement, your statement is very pathetic indeed. What you’re saying is that your point of view is important because some peopole make typos. While your point of view is not even clear (or existant), I’ll allow you some time to think about it. Come back and explain it to me. If you claim to use leet to “save time,” I’d like to know how much time you save by typing “u” instead of “you.” How many miliseconds? I’d also like to know if you are capable now of typing an acceptable resume, and if you’ll ever get a real job. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/8 "2006-10-11T03:31:44Z")
This thread is so balh. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/9 "2006-10-11T03:59:38Z")
You know for some of us, our fingers sometimes get to the e before the h, no leetspeak intended. ::: Hangs head in shame::: ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/10 "2006-10-11T05:11:33Z")
In the Malay language, _teh_ means tea. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/11 "2006-10-11T05:47:54Z")
I use it satirically. I’ll type “teh gays” when I’m mocking the imbeciles who get onto a message board and spout off about how homosexuals are the reason America is [insert ignorant comment here]. Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report often refers to “the innernets.” Same thing. If it gets overused, it definitely loses its cool factor though. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/12 "2006-10-11T05:55:11Z")
Like levdrakon, I’ve heard it mostly used sarcastically. “Oh noes, I’m going to get TEH GAY!!!” I’ve also heard it used to make sentances such as “It is teh sux.” where “teh” is used as an emphasis. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/13 "2006-10-11T06:05:37Z")
I don’t use the leet speech. It’s plain unadulterated bad typing when I do it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/14 "2006-10-11T06:44:51Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] I use it satirically. I’ll type “teh gays” when I’m mocking the imbeciles who get onto a message board and spout off about how homosexuals are the reason America is [insert ignorant comment here]. Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report often refers to “the innernets.” Same thing. [/QUOTE] The term “internets” is a reference to a George W. Bush quote. During a 2004 debate Bush said “I hear there’s rumors on the Internets that we’re going to have a draft.” [Link](http://politicalhumor.about.com/cs/georgewbush/a/top10bushisms.htm) So calle it the internets is a nod to that moment. Wonkette has a regular feature called “rumors on the internets.” That also refers to this quote. Of course, now we no that there is only one internet and that it is a series of tubes. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/15 "2006-10-11T07:10:45Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] The term “internets” is a reference to a George W. Bush quote. During a 2004 debate Bush said “I hear there’s rumors on the Internets that we’re going to have a draft.” [Link](http://politicalhumor.about.com/cs/georgewbush/a/top10bushisms.htm) So calle it the internets is a nod to that moment. Wonkette has a regular feature called “rumors on the internets.” That also refers to this quote. Of course, now we no that there is only one internet and that it is a series of tubes. [/QUOTE] People have been masticating internet, internets, webs, internetwebs, innerwebs, etc; for long before Bush managed to screw it up. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/16 "2006-10-11T07:20:33Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] People have been masticating internet, internets, webs, internetwebs, innerwebs, etc; for long before Bush managed to screw it up. [/QUOTE] Maybe, but when it is used by a political satirist like Colbert, or a political gossip blog like Wonkette. Which has a rumor on the internets piece on its front page right now, they are undoubtedly referencing Bush’s use of it. I was watching the debate on TV as it happened and reading several political blogs at the same time and when Bush said “internets,” Wonkette and Dailykos pounced almost instantly. It then entered the lexicon as a subtle (or not) dig at Bush. ---
**Author:** ![BigDaddyPete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@BigDaddyPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDaddyPete)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/17 "2006-10-11T07:28:02Z")
Thank you for asking, I’ve asked my geek wife, and all I get is, “It’s Leet you idiot”. Not that that helped much. Oh who am I kidding, I still don’t get it. I will never be one of the cool kids. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/18 "2006-10-11T09:43:34Z")
IIRC, it used to have its own wikipedia page 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/19 "2006-10-11T12:16:45Z")
I type teh all the time. Probably 9 out of 10 attempts to type “the” come out “teh”. In fact, the “the” in that last sentence came out teh until I changed it. My word processor & emailer autocorrect “teh” all the time, so I never notice how thoroughly I’ve learned to type it wrongly. Now comes the Dope: entering text without spell check or autocorrect into a 8 line x 50-ish character box. Despite my best efforts at preview, at least one inadvertant teh appears in any multi-sentence post. It has nothing to do with l33t, nor with making a satirical statement. It’s just the pacing of my t, e, and h kestrokes, nothing more. So back to the OP. Are you refering to “teh” in the context of the Dope or internet messageboards / chatrooms in general or blogs or normal writing (email, etc), or in prefossional media? I submit that teh’s meaning, or lack thereof, varies greatly depending on the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000/20 "2006-10-11T13:49:34Z")
When “teh” is used deliberately, I often see it before an adjective, just to add to the ungrammaticalitiness. E.g., “The SDMB is teh l4m3!!!1” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-teh/376000.md?page=2)