w00t is word of the year!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MSN

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Expect cheers among hardcore online game enthusiasts when they learn Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year. Or, more accurately, expect them to "w00t."

"W00t," a hybrid of letters and numbers used by gamers as an exclamation of happiness, topped all other terms in the Springfield dictionary publisher's online poll for the word that best sums up 2007.

Merriam-Webster's president, John Morse, said "w00t" was an ideal choice because it blends whimsy and new technology.

"It shows a really interesting thing that's going on in language. It's a term that's arrived only because we're now communicating electronically with each other," Morse said.

Gamers commonly substitute numbers and symbols for the letters they resemble, Morse says, creating what they call "l33t speak" — that's "leet" when spoken, short for "elite" to the rest of the world.

For technophobes, the word also is familiar from the 1990 movie "Pretty Woman," in which Julia Roberts startles her date's upper-crust friends with a hearty "Woot, woot, woot!" at a polo match.

The 2006 pick, "truthiness," also has its roots in pop culture. It was popularized by Comedy Central satirical political commentator Stephen Colbert.

---

I saw this on MSN and thought that it was very interesting that not only is Merriam-Webster recognizing something that isn't even a word but that they would be so cool about picking up on and recognizing net/gamming lingo.

What words do you think should have been considered and was this a good choice by them?

Ah, w00t . . . A word a frequently use ("whoot!"). I think that n00b ought to similarly be considered, judging by how many people use it.

I was actually in a formal debate and my opponent said, "Whoot, you f***ing n00b . . ." :laugh:

wow i am amazed that some of the made-up words commonly used in video games are being added to the Webster Dictionary. I wonder if "lulz" will make it next year.

I haven't used "woot" in about five years... but used to use it all the time.

That considered, I'd say they're a little slow on the uptake.

w00t!

That's kinda an ancient word, I didn't even realize there was a word of the year award. They need younger judges methinks.

First let me start by saying, "Woot!"

K, that's outta my system. LOL. :laugh:

I personally think that it's cool that they included it in the dictionary. I mean if the word 'ain't' can make it, why not 'woot'? The have to consider the fact that not all gamers use numbers when wooting. ^_^ L33t speak is cool, but I hope that they don't go overboard with it and start using all forms of l33t speak. That would be pretty... Ugh... For a lack of better words. If they put 'PWNED' in the dictionary, I'm moving to another country. LOL.

I know people who say "woot" verbally. My friend Harvey does it all the time. So, I can understand that word. But I'm serious, don't let me see 'pwned' in the dictionary. :laugh:

In a way that is pretty ridiculous. I mean the f word being added to the dictionary is understandable, but for w00t and D'oh to make it into a dictionary is kind of weird in my mind.

So now for something to be a word it has to be in the Dictionary? Wow, I think that's a sad way to live. To me for something to be a word, just give it a definition. I.E - Habblenabblekag! Means "Destruction, fire, death". There ya go, a ne word. Lol that's just me, makes life easier, and a great way to fight agianst those who think that the Dictionary is everything.

And for w00t has been going on for a while, why now?

But for words they should be as followed : Ohwn3d, pwn, Dood, and hablenabblekag, along with lbegginie!