What the hell is woot?

I gather it's not an acronym, and I've seen people use it as an expression of laughter, but where the heck it does it come from and what is it?

Do any of you actually make a "woot!" sound in real life when you laugh?

I use it as an expression of joy when something good happens. Example:
"Woot! I just make level 39!"

I use it as an expression of joy when something good happens. Example: "Woot! I just make level 39!"

In speech or just in writing? I've only ever seen it on the net (where it's usually spelled "w00t"). In speech I'd tend to use "Wahey!"

Peter

I tend to use woot (and w00t) as an expression of feigned enthusiasm. Like "I got a 1 percent raise this year. w00t!" See also "whoopdee-damn-doo." Others seem to use it for real enthusiasm, but for that, I tend to use the old standby, "woohoo!"

I use the word woot online and in real life. Just when anything good happens.

Like WOOT! I just got a raise!

I always thought it was a bastardization of 'root' a'la hacker speek. There's a few more links here: http://pool.dylantree.com/pool_faq.php (see item #7)

Lifted from the Dylan forums aforementioned:
"Some of you may be interested to know that "woot" is a middle english word, meaning "know".

A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.

(Transl: There was a shipman, dwelling far in the west;
For all I WOOT, he was from Dartmouth.)

(Chaucer, General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales)"

AND:

"it's an ancient Dutch greeting........... from the word "woeten", which meant "to greet"......... similar to "groeten" in some of the more "maintstream" dialects........ over time, the "oe" got slurred, and it became "woot"............. as in "woot! hoe gaat het?""


-Zeke

I have no idea of the validity of this, but i'd heard it was Everquest slang for "wonderful loot".

So when you use it in real life, do you pronounce the "T"? Or is it more like "woo!" than "woot!" I just find the exclamation odd, because I've never heard anyone actually use it

I am also a fan of WOOHOO! Or for lesser occasions, a good "yesss!'

[marv albert]
Patrick Ewing! Yesss!
[/marv albert]

I only occasionally use w00t in speech, but when I do, it's almost pronounced as if it were a question and the `t' sound exists, but is clipped.

It's real hard to pronounce those zeros, though.

The zeros indicate that there's no sound present. A (non)verbal place holder as you will.

-Zeke

This Google Search page makes me go w00t!

Wiping Diet Coke off screen off now...

I needed that, thanks.

-Zeke

Thread meshing...

w00t!

Have you seen the klingon version?

http://services.google.com/tcbin/tc.py?cmd=status

Damn, they've even got an Elmer Fud translation. Now, how do you get translations beyond 100%?

Bruno

Nothing better than swedish chef.
http://www.google.com/intl/xx-bork/

Don't you just love geeks! Where would the world be without them?