Who here uses the phrase "uff-da"?

[Martok]

As a resident of the great state of Minnesota -- and more specifically, as an American with a strong Norwegian heritage -- I say "uff-da" quite a lot. It's a great multi-purpose word: You can use it to express surprise, sympathy, pain, amusement, fatigue, and more besides. It's probably a rare day when I don't say uff-da at least once, if not multiple times.


So who else here says "uff-da"? Anyone?

[Fragony]

I thought you would never ask

[Gregoshi]

Never heard of the expression Martok. Do you know the origin of the phrase?

[Strike For The South]

Ugh like a watered down canadian

[Andres]

It has its' own wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uff_da

Seems like the equivalent of "amai".

[Gregoshi]

Seems like the equivalent of "amai".

Which is...?

[Ironside]

Funny stuff, can't get a proper dictionary translation to Norweigian from the Swedish "Usch då".

And I would never seen the connection without being given it. It's changed quite a bit even if it's recognicable.

It's not that commonly used here. Mostly used as simply Usch and is generally equal to displaying minor displeasure. But then we got ojdå, äsch då, ajdå, so we got plenty of simular expressions.

Edit: amai= oh my correct?

[Zradha Pahlavan]

Never used it, never heard it. And it sounds downright bizarre.

[ajaxfetish]

So that's basically the Minnesotan equivalent of 'dude'?

Ajax

[Martok]

Never heard of the expression Martok. Do you know the origin of the phrase?

Not really, other than that it originated in Norway and was brought to the Upper Midwest by immigrants. I've not been able to find much material on its etymology (although to be fair, it's not like I've done extensive research either).

My best guess is that it started out as a simple interjection, and then somehow spread -- in terms of both geographical use and definition. The "how" eludes me, though, and I dare not speculate any further than that.

Ugh like a watered down canadian

I'm trying to work out which group you're insulting here.... [confused look]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Funny stuff, can't get a proper dictionary translation to Norweigian from the Swedish "Usch då".

And I would never seen the connection without being given it. It's changed quite a bit even if it's recognicable.

It's not that commonly used here. Mostly used as simply Usch and is generally equal to displaying minor displeasure. But then we got ojdå, äsch då, ajdå, so we got plenty of simular expressions.

Edit: amai= oh my correct?

Yeah, I've heard the phrase has a slightly different meaning/connotation over in Scandinavia. I wasn't aware there was a Swedish equivalent, though (although I probably shouldn't be surprised)! Is it pretty much the same word, then (different spelling & pronunciation aside)?

So that's basically the Minnesotan equivalent of 'dude'?

Ajax

Sort of. It's actually closer to the Yiddish expression "oy vey", although I suspect "uff-da" tends to be used in a slightly more light-hearted manner/context. Still, the two phrases are quite similar, at least as they're used here in the U.S. -- as I said, I believe uff-da has a slightly different meaning & usage over in Norway itself.

[Fisherking]

ya, ya sure, you bet’cha.

But then I lived so long near Poulsbo, WA (where they still spoke Norwegian on the streets until into the 1950s) that it couldn’t be missed.

Now I am surrounded by Bavarians who use Au Weh in stead. (oy vey for the rest of you) and it means pretty much the same.

[ajaxfetish]

Not really, other than that it originated in Norway and was brought to the Upper Midwest by immigrants. I've not been able to find much material on its etymology (although to be fair, it's not like I've done extensive research either).

. . .

Sort of. It's actually closer to the Yiddish expression "oy vey", although I suspect "uff-da" tends to be used in a slightly more light-hearted manner/context. Still, the two phrases are quite similar, at least as they're used here in the U.S. -- as I said, I believe uff-da has a slightly different meaning & usage over in Norway itself.

Looks like it hasn't made it into the OED yet, though 'oy vey' has. It is in Wikipedia, though without much in the way of etymology. I'm not sure where best to search for etymological data on Scandinavian languages.

Ajax

[pevergreen]

So its kinda like mate?

[Beskar]

When I saw the title, I thought it was you trying to do a censored version of "puff-da/puff'ta" which Chavs use to basically call using some one a homosexual in an insulting fashion.

Also, google brought this link up - http://www.puffta.co.uk/

[Sigurd]

So who else here says "uff-da"? Anyone?

*raises hand*

I use it with the meaning "oh crap" or "sorry to hear that" ...
It's kinda old though and a common usage of mild displeasure in black and white Norwegian films, ya know before nudity and swearing became the norm.

[Viking]

I think I use the term "huff då" more than "uff då"/"uff da". "da" and "då" are two different versions of the same word (in Southern Norway, 'då' is found in the western parts and 'da' in the eastern) and both mean "then", but can also take different meanings. "huff" and "uff" mean roughly the same, and both are used to express something negative; as are "huff då" and "uff då" ('då' is pronounced "daw" for those who should wonder).

According to my dictionary, "da/då" with the meaning in "uff då" comes from Old Norse þó, which looks like is at least partially the etymology of modern English "though". Uff though.