# Why are German subs referred to as u-boats in English? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178 "2026-03-04T03:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/21 "2026-03-04T16:14:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Using a different term for the German version would eliminate any misunderstandings in briefings and communications or having to use “German” as a modifier. Though it did cause some confusion among the Italians: “Is that a U-boat?” “No, that’s not-a my boat.” ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/22 "2026-03-04T17:42:13Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Its a trait of English (and maybe other languages) to adopt enemy terms to describe their war weaponry. I’m not sure this is a genera trait of English. NATO has developed elaborate systems to give English-language names to weaponry of non-NATO countries. Such as, for example, Mike for the Soviet nuclear submarine that was called Plavnik in Russian, or Fulcrum for the MiG-29, or Fagin for the Chinese Chengdu J-20. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/23 "2026-03-04T17:44:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Still in use by the German Navy today, in fact. It’s not just used by the German Navy for its own submarines; it’s also the generic German word for all submarines, including those of other countries. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/24 "2026-03-04T22:49:41Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Though it did cause some confusion among the Italians: > > “Is that a U-boat?” > > “No, that’s not-a my boat.” Groucho: “Go along the viaduct.” Chico: “Why-a- duck? Why-a no chicken?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/25 "2026-03-04T23:32:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > the boating community. What a polite term for those that skulk around and sink ships without warning. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/26 "2026-03-04T23:39:32Z")
There was a use for a term for a German submarine, because they were using a lot of them, to great effect. There wasn’t much use for a term for any other nation’s submarines, because they weren’t using them so much. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/27 "2026-03-05T00:05:57Z")
“Is that a U-boat?” “No, I’m just looking” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/28 "2026-03-05T00:30:35Z")
Only in Central Park Pond. Before WWI subs were model boats, many of them remote controlled. Tesla demonstrated one in 1898 and they took off from there. When the word submarine or sub was used people in America certainly - thought of the homegrown and totally peaceful boating community rather than warships. One major reason why a foreign term had terrific propaganda effect. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/29 "2026-03-05T12:39:05Z")
At one time - the largest operator of submarines in Canada was the West Edmonton Mall. (they were removed in 2012, making the Navy once more number one). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/30 "2026-03-05T14:09:46Z")
Another point bears mentioning here – not only is U-boat short for _Unterseeboot_, but the ship designations for German submarines almost invariably started with a “U”, such as the **U-505** currenty on display in Chicago, or the **UC-97** , which was brought into Lake Michigan after WWI as a gimmick to sell bonds, and was later sunk in Lake Michigan. In contrast, US subs launched between WWI and WWI ran in entire series starting with different letters – **H, K, L, M, N, O, R, S** , etc. I don’t know of any US subs hose alphanumeric designation started with “U”. (afterwards they started giving the subs fish names, instead) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/31 "2026-03-05T23:08:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > (afterwards they started giving the subs fish names, instead) Like the Cod, now a museum ship in Cleveland. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/32 "2026-03-06T05:02:54Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > I wanted zambuk but its origins are uncertain Its origins _to refer to first aiders_ is pretty clear, it comes from the ointment, which is a British invention, not an enemy word. Where the ointment name comes from is what’s uncertain, but it’s a Victorian patent medicine, so “made up from scratch” would be my guess. It’s _definitely_ not a South African Bantu word or town name. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/33 "2026-03-06T06:57:31Z")
Thanks - I did a bit more digging after that post, and got to pretty much the same place. Pondering potential enemy Z words does lead me to Zeppelin, which was used in preference to German lighter-than-air aircraft or airship, so its now Assegai to Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/34 "2026-03-06T11:26:16Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Pondering potential enemy Z words does lead me to Zeppelin, which was used in preference to German lighter-than-air aircraft or airship, so its now Assegai to Zeppelin This name is easy to explain: it comes from the pioneer builder of airships, Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin. Such aircraft is still called a Zeppelin in German. > **[Ferdinand von Zeppelin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_von_Zeppelin)** > > Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (German: Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin; 8 July 1838 – 8 March 1917) was a German general and later inventor of the Zeppelin rigid airships. His name became synonymous with airships and dominated long-distance flight until the 1930s. He founded the company Luftschiffbau Zeppelin. > Ferdinand was the scion of a noble family \[de\]. Zepelin, the family's eponymous hometown, is a small community outside the town of Bützow, in Mecklenburg. > Ferdinand was... ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/35 "2026-03-06T12:27:55Z")
That company seems to still exist: > **[Der Aufbau von einem Zeppelin NT von der Struktur bis zur Hülle](https://zeppelinflug.de/de/zeppelin-nt/technik)** > > Die einzigartige Technik hinter dem Zeppelin: Struktur, Hülle, Antriebssystem ✓ Cockpit, Starten und Landen ✓ Jetzt informieren! ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/36 "2026-03-07T07:12:04Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > A British person hunkered down in the Blitz would have been very familiar with u-boats, panzers, flak and other terms. Ironically (or not?), Blitz itself is, of course, also German in origin (short for Blitzkrieg, or lightning war). ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/37 "2026-03-07T07:24:05Z")
Deliberately done, and well-spotted. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/38 "2026-03-07T07:28:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > but the ship designations for German submarines almost invariably started with a “U”, such as the **U-505** currenty on display in Chicago As an aside, if you ever find yourself in Chicago, the U-505 exhibit is an ABSOLUTE must-see if you’re at all interested in the Battle of the Atlantic, and includes some amazing relics like the ship’s Enigma codebook and the Medal of Honor that was awarded to the leader of the boarding party. The guided tour of the sub is extra, but well worth it - you can really get a feel for how cramped and miserable it must have been for 60 men to live and work in that hot, smelly (it’s been 80 years and the engine room STILL reeks of diesel, to say nothing of how intense the BO must have been) dark tube underwater. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/39 "2026-03-07T08:14:23Z")
Can confirm. One of my favorite museum exhibits, and the guided tour is pretty great. I’m pocket sized, and am generally not concerned with personal space. That place was cramped. But to the original question: yeah, in some ways it’s just because they were the enemy, and that was the word they used for them. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178/40 "2026-03-07T09:11:31Z")
Apropos of nothing, from 1956 to 1998 Locomotive manufacturer GE had a line of [“universal” locomotives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_Universal_Series). All of the model numbers began with U so to railroaders of the period they were universally (heh) called U-boats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178.md?page=3)