# Yucatan... Do you know?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yucatan-do-you-know/237104>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yucatan-do-you-know/237104 "2004-03-29T16:43:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yucatan-do-you-know/237104/1 "2004-03-29T16:43:20Z")

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I read today’s [For Better Or Worse](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/20040327/cx_fb_uc/fb20040327&e=3&ncid=), and had never heard the rumor about Yucatan’s etymology. Of course the first place I checked was the SD archive, but [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_236.html) didn’t really directly answer the question. OK he weighed in his doubts on the matter but I’m hoping maybe somewhere it’s either been proven or dispelled (likely the latter). I agree with Cecil’s comment that the “cuter” the story, the more doubtful its veracity is.

Any have the Straight Dope?

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**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 29, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yucatan-do-you-know/237104/2 "2004-03-29T17:37:29Z")

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Since this joke has been told about every place in the world I’m not inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt.

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**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yucatan-do-you-know/237104/3 "2004-03-29T21:03:08Z")

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When I vacationed in Cozumel, the tour guide (a Mayan) told us the exact same thing. He did give the correct phrase, though, which was shortened into Yucatan. Sorry, can’t remember the phrase.