Uff da (/ˈʊfdə/ ; sometimes also spelled oof-da, oofda, oofala, oof-dah, oofdah, huffda, uff-da, uffda, uff-dah, ufda, ufdah, or uf daa[citation needed]) is an American Scandinavian exclamation or interjection used to express dismay, typically upon hearing bad news. Of Norwegian origin, the phrase was brought by Scandinavian Americans to the Upper Midwest, New England, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States during the 19th century, where its meaning was broadened to express also surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, or relief.
Danish and Norwegian usage
In Danish and Norwegian language, uf (Danish and older Norwegian spelling) or uff (current Norwegian spelling) is a mild and polite vernacular interjection used when something is unpleasant, uncomfortable, hurtful, annoying, sad, or irritating.[2][3] The word is an onomatopoeia[4] corresponding to English oof, Dutch oef and German uff. Other similar interjections exist in Danish, e.g. uha or føj,[2] and Norwegian, e.g. huff.[4] Uff da may be used in Norwegian as a response when hearing something lamentable (but not too serious), and can be translated as "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that".[5] Da is derived from Old Norse þá meaning 'then' in this context (similar to e.g. the response "ok, then"); both da and English then (from Old English þanne, þænne, þonne) are derived from Proto-Germanic *þan ('at that (time), then').[6] The Swedish exclamations ojdå and usch då are similar in meaning, with Swedish då corresponding to Norwegian da.[7][8][9] Uff is a Swedish word with the same meaning as the Norwegian word, it is documented in writing from 1770. [10][11]
North American usage
Uff da is a marker of Scandinavian heritage, predominantly heard in the upper Midwest, which has a significant population with Scandinavian roots. It also is used throughout the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the Washington cities of Ballard[12] and Stanwood.[13] Its variety of meanings let it substitute for common obscenities.[14] Within Scandinavian-American culture, uff da frequently translates to "I am overwhelmed", somewhat similar to the Yiddish phrase oy vey.
It has also been applied to places and events, such as:
- Uff-Da Airport, located in Stoughton, Wisconsin.[15]
- Uffda Fest!, an annual event held in Spring Grove, Minnesota.[16]
- Uff Da Days, an annual event held in Ostrander, Minnesota.[17]
- Uffda Day Fall Festival, an annual event held in Rutland, North Dakota.[18][19]
- The Uff-Da Shoppe, located in Stanwood, Washington.[20]
- Uff Da! Sign Store, located in Wausau, Wisconsin. [21]
See also
References
Further reading
- Allen, Harold B. (1973). The Linguistic Atlas of the Upper Midwest, Volume 1, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), ISBN 978-0816606863. OCLC 658192.
- Haugen, Einar (1957) Beginning Norwegian: a grammar and reader (George G.Harrap & Co Ltd) ISBN 978-0245531378
- Lovoll, Odd S. (1998) The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press) ISBN 9780816628322
- Mohr, Howard (1987) How to talk Minnesotan : a visitor's guide (New York, NY: Penguin Books) ISBN 978-0143122692
- Stangland, E. C. (1987). Red Strangland's Norwegian Home Companion. (Dorset Press). ISBN 978-0880295215.
- Stangland, E. C. (1988). Uff Da Jokes. (Norse Press). ISBN 978-0960269242.
- Clark, Jayne (July 25, 2002). "True blue North? You betcha!". USA Today.
External links
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
Data from Wikidata
- Kinnes, Tormod. "Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity"
- "Uff da!" Archived from lawzone.com/half-nor/uffda.htm
- "Rock Bend Folk Festival 2007 – Al Batt". YouTube.