# "Word" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914 "2003-03-17T03:08:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/1 "2003-03-17T03:08:41Z")
This was going to be a rant, but I’m not really vitriolic enough about the whole thing. In case anyone is confused, “word” as a simple, one word affirmative to something. It is used in much the same way as “Right on!” or “Dude, I totally agree, yo,” or perhaps “Yes, that is quite accurate and you are totally hip.” Now, maybe I’m just noticing it more, but in the last 2 days I’ve have seen “word” used on this board THREE TIMES! I post on another band fan-board where it is used almost constantly, even by the members of the band and the moderators and it drives me crazy. It’s not so much that “word” is a bad word; it is rather handy, I suppose. It’s simply that it’s used so much, often as the only thing in a post after a quoted message, and furthermore, it makes no freakin’ sense whatsoever!!! _takes a deep breath_ So, is it just me, or is this board being _infected_? have I just started noticing it, or is there a reason for this sudden popularity? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/2 "2003-03-17T03:18:58Z")
You said it. Wor…errr… [Insert New Neologism for Street Talk and Generalised Male Bonding Through Positive Affirmation Here] ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/3 "2003-03-17T03:23:27Z")
Well, I should have predicted that would happen. Good thing you got it over with quickly. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/4 "2003-03-17T03:38:34Z")
Shh Tanaqui! If you pay it no attention it’ll go away. The word that is, not Rabid Squirrel, whom I’m sure is lovely, though being rabid maybe… No no, a lovely person I’m certain. And you know I mean the word ‘Word’ right? Not The Word as in word of god, 'cause that’s not going anywhere soon either. Ya know, don’t pay any attention to me either. See I’m gone now too. ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/5 "2003-03-17T07:44:02Z")
“Word”? Are you serious? That is sooooo 1985. Looks like it’s making a comeback. That’s OK with me. However, I don’t think I’ve heard “bee-otch” for at least a week, so maybe that one is finally dead. Thank God. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/6 "2003-03-17T07:47:52Z")
It’s “wurd,” bee-atch. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/7 "2003-03-17T13:18:24Z")
I use it all the time! But I prefer to say it in Spanish. “Palabra.” Or when emphatic: “Palabra a su madre.” ---
**Author:** ![irkenDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c2a13f/32.png) [@irkenDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irkenDoom)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/8 "2003-03-17T15:35:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazelle from Hell \* > \*\*I use it all the time! > > But I prefer to say it in Spanish. “Palabra.” > > Or when emphatic: “Palabra a su madre.” \*\* Wouldn’t “ **mamá** ” be better in this context? ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/9 "2003-03-17T16:46:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by irkenDoom \* > \*\*Wouldn’t “ **mamá** ” be better in this context? \*\* From what I hear, it doesn’t make sense either way. Every native Spanish speaker to whom I’ve uttered this phrase has, in turn, graced me with an extremely puzzled look. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![irkenDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c2a13f/32.png) [@irkenDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irkenDoom)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/10 "2003-03-17T17:35:25Z")
That’s okay. If I had said it, I probably would have mixed up the words “palabra” and “pelota.” I think I’d be lucky to get a puzzled look in that case! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/11 "2003-03-17T19:46:31Z")
Dig. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/12 "2003-03-17T20:15:19Z")
Morpheme to your maternal parent! ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word/161914/13 "2003-03-18T01:14:17Z")
Straight