# Why Duhbya? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225 "2003-11-14T12:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/21 "2003-11-18T11:30:31Z")
> [@](#): > > ## In the film A Fish Named Wandathe actress who plays John Cleese’s wife mistakely thinks that a piece of jewelry decorated with a “W” is meant for her. She says “it even has a ‘woof’ for Wendy”. Or anyway, that is what it sounds as though she is saying to my ill-educated Midwestern ear. If not, whatisshe saying, anyway? > > She said “and it’s even got a wuh for Wendy”; just an informal, childish way of saying it. I can confirm what others have said, that we call the letter double-u. Yup, just to clarify… she says “wuh for”, not “woof for”, and it’s a childish “phonics” pronunciation - you know, like “buh for ball, cuh for cat…” You’d get some very funny looks if you referred to “George Wuh Bush”… although actually I can see that catching on… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/22 "2003-11-18T11:50:27Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by moriah \* > \*\*For completion’s sake: The current president’s father is the former president George Herbert Bush[sup]_[/sup] > > [sup]\*[/sup]It’s actually George Herbert Walker Bush, but rarely was the ‘Walker’ ever used. \*\* I’ve actually NEVER heard “George Herbert Bush”, but often hear “George Herbert Walker Bush”, with both the “Herbert” and the “Walker” referenced to draw attention to his lineage (his middle name being the first and last name of his maternal grandfather). Just using “Herbert” isn’t as potent a reference. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/23 "2003-11-18T17:51:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*It’s actually George Herbert Walker Bush, but rarely was the ‘Walker’ ever used. What are you talking about? The “Walker” is used just as often as the “Herbert.” I’ve never heard of him referred to as “George Herbert Bush,” but have often heard of him referred to as “George Herbert Walker Bush.” I believe Molly Ivins was in high school with George W. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/24 "2003-11-19T00:01:25Z")
i am officially bummed that british protesters will not be carrying placards with: “woof” go home" on them. what a poo! that would have been quite the press feeding frenzy. i would have loved the confusion that would have been rampant in the states. too bad his name isn’t “z” “zed” go home, would have confused most of the tv guys, except for jennings. ---
**Author:** ![KenGr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@KenGr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenGr)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/25 "2003-11-19T02:04:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > \*\* > I believe Molly Ivins was in high school with George W. \*\* Nope. Here is her version: > [@](#): > > As it happens, I have known George W. Bush for a long time–not well, but for a long time. Since we were both in high school. He went to prep school in the East, and I went to prep school in Houston, but he hung around with friends of mine, dated girls I knew. I would never claim we were friends, but he was someone I vaguely knew. This is from a recent column. [Ivins](http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1475) Molly sometimes plays the “good old girl” but is rumored to be very much a “limosine liberal” from a priviliged background much like GWB. As we used to say when trying to pick up girls “Didn’t we used to go to different schools together?” ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225/26 "2003-11-22T01:24:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bienville \* > \*\*I’ve actually NEVER heard “George Herbert Bush”, but often hear “George Herbert Walker Bush”, with both the “Herbert” and the “Walker” referenced to draw attention to his lineage (his middle name being the first and last name of his maternal grandfather). Just using “Herbert” isn’t as potent a reference. \*\* I stand corrected. A google fight reveals that “George Herbert Walker Bush” and “George H. W. Bush” are far more common than “George Herbert Bush” and “George H. Bush.” Peace. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-duhbya/213225.md?page=1)