# "Pumpkin" as a term of endearment **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043 "2004-05-25T19:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/21 "2004-05-26T10:30:55Z")
If it is used at all in the UK, then GorillaMan must be right in saying that it’s very area specific. I’ve never heard it in the North West or Edinburgh. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/22 "2004-05-26T10:36:31Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I believe it’s pronounced [“pumbi-wumbi-umpkin”](http://www.mojeeb.com/HTML/fun/puppycake.htm) > I think I can understand “honey-bunny”. It’s both sweet and cute. But pumpkin??? A nasty tasting gourd. How did anyone ever eat it before pumpkin pie was invented? Never heard anyone use pumpkin here. Well not unless they were taking the piss. But how can you be so wrong about the “nasty gourd”? Roast pumpkin is heaven and pumpkin soup is wonderful. Cold roast pumpkin is awesome in salad with bacon and peppery greens. I have never tasted pumpkin pie…it seems to have marshmallows on it…no thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/23 "2004-05-26T10:39:06Z")
Not sure about all that 1846 stuff, since I wasn’t around then, but my parents used it profusely (and sickeningly) in the north Chicago 'burbs in 1978. And yes, they pronounced it, “Punkin”. ---
**Author:** ![MalFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@MalFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MalFrog)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/24 "2004-05-26T10:41:12Z")
I’m from the UK and use it as an affectionate term for my young daughter. However, I’m guessing it was only chosed by me as it alliterates with her first name and is often used in a postscript conjunction with that. It’s also quite cute as she knows Daddy’s the only one that calls her that ‘special name’. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/25 "2004-05-26T12:51:41Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I have never tasted pumpkin pie…it seems to have marshmallows on it…no thanks. No, pumpkin pie uses sugar, egg, cream and pumpkin to make a custard that is baked in a pie shell. It’s quite good. You can substitute yams and make a sweet potato pie. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/26 "2004-05-26T17:29:22Z")
> [@Gravity](#): > > No, pumpkin pie uses sugar, egg, cream and pumpkin to make a custard that is baked in a pie shell. It’s quite good. You can substitute yams and make a sweet potato pie. Yum. Pumpkin pie IS very good. I imagine that **calm kiwi** has heard of people in the US making candied yams, which often ARE festooned with marshmallows, and are likely to induce instant diabetes. Pumpkin pie is properly served with whipped cream or ice cream. I used to love to eat a slice for breakfast, back in the days when I ate sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/27 "2004-05-26T17:55:04Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I believe it’s pronounced [“pumbi-wumbi-umpkin”](http://www.mojeeb.com/HTML/fun/puppycake.htm) > I think I can understand “honey-bunny”. It’s both sweet and cute. But pumpkin??? A nasty tasting gourd. How did anyone ever eat it before pumpkin pie was invented? You wouldn’t happen to be from somewhere outside the U.S.A., would you? My first year in grad school I lived with a brit and a kiwi and what _they_ thought of as a pumpkin was a small green gourd with a long stem that curved back down towards the body, indeed it _does_ leave something to be desired in the taste department compared to acorn or butternut squashes, or American pumpkins. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/28 "2004-05-26T18:13:05Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > You wouldn’t happen to be from somewhere outside the U.S.A., would you? My first year in grad school I lived with a brit and a kiwi and what _they_ thought of as a pumpkin was a small green gourd with a long stem that curved back down towards the body, indeed it _does_ leave something to be desired in the taste department compared to acorn or butternut squashes, or American pumpkins. That’s strange. I’ve never seen a pumpkin that _isn’t_ a big bright orange one. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/29 "2004-05-26T18:35:42Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > That’s strange. I’ve never seen a pumpkin that _isn’t_ a big bright orange one. Okay, maybe Jon was just spacing. I’m _positive_ that John (the kiwi) said that “pumpkin” in NZ means the little green thing. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/30 "2004-05-26T21:15:05Z")
“GorillaMan, please respect that MelCthefirst has full authority to speak generally for all the peoples of New Zealand, Australia, and Britain- there was a vote. Please stop being insubordinate.” Bienville - don’t be a wanker. Why not join in when you have something relevant to add. Where are you from? I’ve lived in all three countries, have relatives in all three countries, gone to school or uni, watched TV, read books and watched movies from all three countries. No this doesn’t give me “full authority to speak for all”, I’m not doing this, nor am I suggesting that there aren’t some people who use the term, but if the term ‘pumpkin’ was in general use as an affectionate way of addressing people, you’d think I would have picked this up. Furthermore: I’m a she and thank you +MDI. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/31 "2004-05-26T21:18:39Z")
Forgot to add that the thing called a ‘Pumpkin’ in Australia and NZ could be the classic North American orange one that you make Jack o lanterns (is that right?) out of or smaller gourd shaped creamy orange or light green coloured ones or dark green round ones. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/32 "2004-05-26T21:31:24Z")
It’s an appropriate term of endearment for a female if she in turn refers to her mate as “Peter Peter.” ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/33 "2004-05-26T21:57:12Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > Forgot to add that the thing called a ‘Pumpkin’ in Australia and NZ could be the classic North American orange one that you make Jack o lanterns (is that right?) out of or smaller gourd shaped creamy orange or light green coloured ones or dark green round ones. Yeah, that sounds about right. Kiwi-John (with three Jo{h}ns in the apartment we had to distinguish by nationality) had never seen the big orange ones before, though. Then again, he nearly freaked out when he first saw snow falling through the sky as opposed to just sitting on the ground as he traveled through a mountainy region. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/34 "2004-05-26T21:58:21Z")
The first time I ever heard “pumpkin” used as a term of endearment was on the TV show “Married With Children”, by Al Bundy toward his daughter Kelly. (Possibly used because she was born near the American Thanksgiving holiday, maybe?) This was in about the 8th or 9th season of the show, circa 1995 or so. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/35 "2004-05-26T22:57:30Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > …No this doesn’t give me “full authority to speak for all”, I’m not doing this…, OK - only speaking for all Yorkshiremen, then: “You sure about that - my in-laws are from Yorkshire and would never use the term” ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/36 "2004-05-26T23:17:46Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > OK - only speaking for all Yorkshiremen, then: “You sure about that - my in-laws are from Yorkshire and would never use the term” Crikey GorillaMan, I was asking you if you were sure because I hadn’t heard my in-laws using it and they are also from Yorkshire. I am not saying you are wrong, I am not speaking for all Yorkshiremen, I am questioning your answer. When you first posted your response to where you thought they used the term in Britain, you said: “South Yorkshire?” as if you were not sure and having a guess - why else would you use a question mark? But this is beside the point - the term ‘Pumpkin’ as a term of endearment is not in _general_ use in Britain. ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/37 "2004-05-26T23:45:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s an appropriate term of endearment for a female if she in turn refers to her mate as “Peter Peter.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/38 "2004-05-26T23:57:01Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > When you first posted your response to where you thought they used the term in Britain, you said: “South Yorkshire?” as if you were not sure and having a guess - why else would you use a question mark? > But this is beside the point - the term ‘Pumpkin’ as a term of endearment is not in _general_ use in Britain. OK, so I shouldn’t have used a question mark. But does a term have to be in constant use throughout the _whole_ country for it to be considered ‘general’ use? ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/39 "2004-05-27T01:38:44Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > OK, so I shouldn’t have used a question mark. > > But does a term have to be in constant use throughout the _whole_ country for it to be considered ‘general’ use? Now you are just being silly. What do you think the term ‘general use’ means? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/40 "2004-05-27T01:47:00Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > Now you are just being silly. What do you think the term ‘general use’ means? “In general use in the the UK” does not mean “In use throughout the UK”. Otherwise no local phrase could be described as in general use. Which _would_ be silly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043.md?page=3)