# What demographic group do you associate with the word "skookum?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215 "2007-10-27T13:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/1 "2007-10-27T13:05:53Z")
I’ve been hearing “skookum” a bit more frequently in my day-to-day life than I have since I was a child. I don’t recall hearing the word much at all throughout the eighties and most of the nineties, but then it began to resurface - and it seems to me to be embraced by one particular subset of society, almost exclusively. When I was a kid, this already seemed very old-fashioned. My _mom_ and her sisters used it, fercryinoutloud. Its persistence seems (to me) to be more among one group than any other - but it’s still rare enough that I can’t be sure if my observations are statistically significant. So… uh… who would you expect to describe something as “skookum?” ---
**Author:** ![tbdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@tbdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tbdi)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/2 "2007-10-27T13:49:24Z")
Nobody. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word before and have no clue what it means. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/3 "2007-10-27T14:33:51Z")
I recall it as an affectionate term for a lover, or a child. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/4 "2007-10-27T14:37:02Z")
No one. I’ve never heard it before… ( **A.R. Cane** - do you mean _snookums_ - I’ve heard that one as an affectionate term) GT ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/5 "2007-10-27T14:37:54Z")
Never heard it before and have no idea what it is supposed to mean. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/6 "2007-10-27T14:42:06Z")
I’ve never heard it, either. No idea what it could mean. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/7 "2007-10-27T14:44:06Z")
Another poster here, who is completely baffled by the term. I don’t associate it with any ethnic group, either. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/8 "2007-10-27T14:59:45Z")
[QUOTE=gardentraveler] No one. I’ve never heard it before… ( **A.R. Cane** - do you mean _snookums_ - I’ve heard that one as an affectionate term) GT [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/9 "2007-10-27T15:03:43Z")
I associate it with men in their 50s who are working in a trade such as carpenters, electricians, welders, security systems (automated gates, electronic entry), plumbers, etc.; or guys in their 30s who grew up in rural PNW areas. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/10 "2007-10-27T15:04:59Z")
“Skookum” is a First Nations word, is it not? Chinook specifically? I believe it is most well known in BC and Alberta, maybe in the PNW as well. To me, it means “awesome” or “top-notch”. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/11 "2007-10-27T16:06:21Z")
I think of the Okanagan and our friends at the Columbia Brewing Company when I hear that word. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/12 "2007-10-27T16:12:17Z")
Grandmas, I guess. TV grandmas. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/13 "2007-10-27T16:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] “Skookum” is a First Nations word, is it not? Chinook specifically? I believe it is most well known in BC and Alberta, maybe in the PNW as well. To me, it means “awesome” or “top-notch”. [/QUOTE] This is what I was thinking as well, though I’d include the Yukon in the list of places. Addind the word to a name (for example, “Skookum Joe”) would mean that the bearer of the name was an upstanding guy. ---
**Author:** ![Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/das_glasperlenspiel/32/2944_2.png) [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Das_Glasperlenspiel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/14 "2007-10-27T17:25:25Z")
The above-noted lexicon of British Columbia words and phrases defines “skookum” as: “strong, big or powerful” in **Chinook** jargon. Still in active use, the word is now being applied in instances where it means “terrific” or “good”. I heard my father use it a lot - “skookumchuck” was a powerful tide rip or run; “skookum house” was the jail. das Glas ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/15 "2007-10-27T18:37:22Z")
How do you pronouce it? We don’t have many Chinooks down here. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/16 "2007-10-27T18:49:19Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] How do you pronouce it? We don’t have many Chinooks down here. [/QUOTE] SKOOK-um ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/17 "2007-10-27T19:00:04Z")
Never heard of it before. If I had to guess, I’d say it was a brand of chewing tobacco. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/18 "2007-10-27T19:48:49Z")
Skookum – I’m in another part of th’ world, so sorry, no recall on it. Snookums - No one says it around here except as extreme sarcasm aimed as a wussy-wuss. Based on that, though, it crosses the both the gender and age barriers. Usually associated with some kind of clucking aunt or granny figure, complete with the cheek pinching and a fiver tucked into a Christmas card. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/19 "2007-10-27T19:57:10Z")
I didn’t know what it meant until it was defined, either. No associations, no ideas, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215/20 "2007-10-27T20:46:56Z")
Never heard of it, have no associations. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-demographic-group-do-you-associate-with-the-word-skookum/424215.md?page=2)