# Why do we "say cheese"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375 "2004-01-08T07:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/1 "2004-01-08T07:11:22Z")
I don’t know if I’ve ever had a photographer, amateur or professional, seriously tell me to say cheese, but it’s the phrase most commonly associated with smiling in snapshots. But why “cheese”? I know that the eeeee sound in cheese makes your lips part and look a little like you’re smiling, so the physical aspect makes sense. But “cheese” isn’t the only word with a long e. So why (and when) did photographers and photographees settle on “cheese,” and not “bees” or “knees” or “fleece” or “pleats” or “mean” or anything else? ([This site](http://www.lukeswartz.com/writing/cheese.html) has an amusing tale involving flatulance that strikes me as unlikely. As in a giant put-on. But hey, if it’s true, someone let me know.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/2 "2004-01-08T07:24:32Z")
Would you rather they suggested we “say herpes”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/3 "2004-01-08T09:07:28Z")
The ‘ch’ is also important as it forms a part of the smile that the ‘ee’ completes. I suppose ‘cheers’ or ‘cheeks’ would also do. I dont think there are any other ‘chee’ words, so ‘cheese’ isn’t up against much competition. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/4 "2004-01-08T09:27:26Z")
Cheap? Chief? Don Cheadle? ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/5 "2004-01-08T10:54:12Z")
yeah ok … Don Cheadle?? Cheat. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/6 "2004-01-08T16:59:06Z")
Is the “ch” more effective than, say, “sh”? We could say “sheep” or “shears” with much the same effect. I’d smile if a photographer asked me to say “Don Cheadle.” ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/7 "2004-01-08T17:15:13Z")
So what do they say in non-English speaking countries? If they said “queso” in Spanish-speaking countries, for example, we’d see an awful lot of pictures of these folks with their lips pursed as if preparing to kiss someone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/8 "2004-01-08T17:57:17Z")
Japanese people say “Chee-zu!” I prefer to say “Curds and Whey!” ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/9 "2004-01-08T18:10:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*So what do they say in non-English speaking countries? \*\* In Japan, they say the number “two” (_ni_) which, in Japanese, is pronounced pretty much the same as the English word “knee”. Actually, from what I’ve seen, the photogtapher asks “What’s one plus one?” (in Japanese, of course), to which those being photographed respond “_Niiiiii_”. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/10 "2004-01-08T18:20:41Z")
Germans say “whisky” RK ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/11 "2004-01-08T18:53:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*In Japan, they say the number “two” (_ni_) which, in Japanese, is pronounced pretty much the same as the English word “knee”. > > Actually, from what I’ve seen, the photogtapher asks “What’s one plus one?” (in Japanese, of course), to which those being photographed respond “_Niiiiii_”. \*\* You saw this _where_? I’ve been living here for over twelve years, and every single time Japanese people pose for a photograph, the person with the camera says “_Hai, Cheee-zu!_”, and the people who are posing all say "_Cheee-zu!_ ", and make the ‘V’ for ‘victory’/‘peace’ sign with their fingers, and then the person with the camera takes their picture. Never heard anyone say “ni” for a photo. [cite:D](http://www.kai9.com/pages/pictures/picout.php?set=set27) [cite:D](http://www.kai9.com/pages/pictures/picout.php?set=set30) [cite:D](http://www.counterpop.net/~dignan/photos/j10/19.html) [cite:D](http://rudie.net/2001/i/0515_21.jpg) [cite:D](http://www.vanderzande.net/photo/02/016.html) ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/12 "2004-01-08T19:21:15Z")
In Korea I remember saying “kimchee!” all the time before pictures. Of course, that could just be my family. You know, it probably was. Regardless, it seems like kind of a risk. What if the photographer snaps on the Kim instead of the chee? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/13 "2004-01-08T19:48:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gluteus maximus \* > **You saw this _where_?** You know what, I have no idea _where_ I came across that little nugget of (mis) information. I took a measly one year of Japanese back in college, but the only thing I learned about photographs was the word _shashin_, so I didn’t pick it up _there_. Now I wracking my brain trying to figure out where I heard that, and I just can’t figure it out. Strange. > [@](#): > > **I’ve been living here for over twelve years** Then I’ll gladly take your word for it. Perhaps I am the unwitting victim of some sort of bizarre meme or something. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/14 "2004-01-09T16:11:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*Perhaps I am the unwitting victim of some sort of bizarre meme or something. \*\* Well, at first, I thought maybe you were confusing Japanese people with certain shrubbery-admiring, three-headed k-nnnnniggets. Today, just to be sure, I asked 20 different Japan people, and they confirmed that "_Cheee-zu!_ is their keyword for smiling snapshots. > [@](#): > > **Now I wracking my brain trying to figure out where I heard that, and I just can’t figure it out. Strange.** 😃 In the past I burning your dog. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/15 "2004-01-09T16:17:43Z")
:smack: :smack: :smack: Today, just to be sure, I asked 20 different **Japanese** people, and they confirmed that "_Cheee-zu!_ is their keyword for smiling snapshots.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/16 "2004-01-09T16:26:56Z")
Here in Wisconsin, we _always_ say [cheese.](http://doorbell.net/tlr/cheesecd.htm) 🙂 Or sometimes just “cheddar.” As a photographer, any variation on this theme is likely to get a laugh, and the spontaneous smile is what I want just before I trip the shutter. [Real cheeseheads say the word.](http://doorbell.net/pbc/yr17.htm) (scroll down) ---
**Author:** ![kmg365](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@kmg365](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kmg365)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/17 "2004-01-14T07:09:27Z")
Interestingly, Germans don’t say cheese (Kaese) when photographs. Their cue to smile is simply, “Laeche” (pronounced _leh-keh_), which of course, means “smile.” (Gotta hand it to those Germans in terms of coming up with such an imaginative, and yet, appropriate word!) ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/18 "2004-01-14T07:32:16Z")
I seem to remember that Brazilians say the Portuguese name of the letter X (_xis_), which is pronounced “sheess.” Sounds almost exactly like “cheese”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-cheese/223375/19 "2004-01-14T07:43:41Z")
I live in China and the Chinese say “jiatze”, which means eggplant. Oh, they all do the V symbol with their finger too.