# Why the name "youtube"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-name-youtube/594946>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 2, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-name-youtube/594946 "2011-09-02T13:44:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-name-youtube/594946/41 "2011-09-06T21:25:57Z")

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> [@Colophon](#):
>
> Does “YouTube” sound like “yootoob” in American English? I’d spell it phonetically as “yoo-tyoob”.

Depends on the American.

This one (raised in California) says “tube” in a way that could reasonably be spelled “toob”. Of course, I recognize the “tyoob” pronunciation too, but it’s not the one my tongue reaches for first.

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**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-name-youtube/594946/42 "2011-09-07T21:16:47Z")

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> [@Blaster\_Master](#):
>
> And the one thing that it does even better than most is the alliteration. If it were YouTV it might be mistaken with an initialism of UTV. But YouTube just sounds good.

Actually, if you’re interested, it’s an example of [assonance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assonance) rather than [alliteration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliteration).

You’re welcome.

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**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-name-youtube/594946/44 "2011-09-08T04:01:40Z")

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What does “Amazon” have to do with books? Nothing, but it’s memorable and evocative. “Youtube” at least has some connection to the service provided.

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