# What's up with "wOOt"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111 "2002-08-15T23:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/1 "2002-08-15T23:18:24Z")
I realize “woot” or “w00t” or however you care to spell it is just a cry of glee, but where did it come from? How do you pronounce it? Have you ever said it in real life? ---
**Author:** ![brandiwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@brandiwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brandiwine)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/2 "2002-08-15T23:40:06Z")
HAAHAHA I cant freaking believe someone put my w0rd in a thread!!! 😃 From what I know, “w00t” came from my friend Zach & I Many moons ago. (We both live near Nashvilleas well, so perhaps its migrated 30 miles south, to you? LoL) Or it’s one of those things a lot of people think up on their own. As a way to claim personal ownership of it, he had a customized car tag made, saying “w00t” with flames around it, and has had it for ages. And yes, Ive said it in real life, quite frequently, and have heard him do so as well on many occasion. Other people… never heard it from them. Thought it was a secret snooty thing said amongst select friends. Pronunciation? Im sure you could say it however you please… As for me it’s like hoot, with a high pitched OO sound (hence the Zero’s in the middle) And said rather quickly. Maybe it’s time to drop w00t from my vocabulary now ☹ Since it’s apparently been used up & sent around the block so many times. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/3 "2002-08-15T23:42:31Z")
t0 u||d3r$+@||D jOo |/|u5+ be l33T. [😃](http://www.ninjalane.com/leet.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/4 "2002-08-15T23:52:41Z")
|3uT iF 0L|) |/|aLpHr33\>\< L1|\<3 |/|3 |\ **Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/5 "2002-08-16T00:00:58Z") What means “malphreex”? ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/6 "2002-08-16T00:18:04Z")
Great. Now my eyes hurt. Thanks, **KneadtoKnow** and **Sunspace**. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/7 "2002-08-16T00:18:36Z")
Oulde phogies who are not enthused by cracking into others’ computers for pranks and mischief… ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/8 "2002-08-16T00:46:21Z")
Please, ‘Woot’ goes back farther than that. I’ve seen it used in gaming and SF circles for over a decade. |33t speakers make B1FF!! cry. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/9 "2002-08-16T00:49:44Z")
w00t - in my mind anyway, rhymes with boot 🙂 I don’t say it IRL but yes I have used it a time or two in e-mail or IM to convey glee. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/10 "2002-08-16T01:33:03Z")
I’m old, and I understand |33T. Does that mean I’m cool? Or does it mean |33Tz are lame? 😃 ---
**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:** [August 16, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/11 "2002-08-16T01:34:44Z")
BTW: I agree with **brandiwine** on the pronunciation. It’s in falsetto. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/12 "2002-08-16T02:28:46Z")
In Germany, they write v00t! By the way, 3y3 0wn j00! ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/13 "2002-08-16T02:32:57Z")
If you ever play an action/fps online then you’ll have seen it. It’s been around for maybe 2 years. w00t! gg. i r r0x03d j00 \’!+- m4h h4x n 1337n355! ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/14 "2002-08-16T02:41:55Z")
I always heard it being “woofed” or “w00ted” on the erstwhile Arsenio Hall Show. I honestly thought that was where it originated. Betcha can’t guess I am by no means a gamer, huh? ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/15 "2002-08-16T07:10:08Z")
A search on Google groups shows it going back at least as far as 1989. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/16 "2002-08-16T12:29:51Z")
I yelled “w00t” in public - when we went to see Attack of the Clones… see this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=116129) for the scintillating :rolleyes: story. I love “w00t” - it expresses my deepest, inner joy. It’s Friday - w00t! ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/17 "2002-08-16T13:01:12Z")
W00T! Heh, any on-line FPS player has heard this a million times. Think of Homer Simpson going “Woo Hoo!!” - same principal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/18 "2002-08-16T13:10:37Z")
I prefer “woohoo.” ---
**Author:** ![majinborg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/db5fbb/32.png) [@majinborg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/majinborg)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/19 "2002-08-16T13:14:15Z")
What’s l33t? ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111/20 "2002-08-16T13:18:44Z")
From the thread that Canthearya pointed out a few posts earlier, w00t is now synonimous with Canty in my head. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-woot/124111.md?page=2)