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Having lived in the Pacific Northwest all my life (36 years) and never once hearing Uff da until I started working with Wisconsonites, I don't believe the term could be described as "often used in the Pacific Northwest".
insert space, add citation, and remove dubious unsourced item
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'''Uff da''' (sometimes also spelled '''huffda''', '''uff-da''', '''uffda''', '''uff-dah''', '''oofda''', '''ufda''', '''ufdah''', '''oofta''', or '''uf daa''')is an exclamation of Norwegian origin adopted by [[Scandinavian-Americans]] in the 19th century. It is an exclamation that is relatively common in the [[Upper Midwest]]ern states of the [[United States]].<ref>[http://oaks.nvg.org/noam-uffda.html ''Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity'' (Tormod Kinnes. The Gold Scales)]</ref>
'''Uff da''' (sometimes also spelled '''huffda''', '''uff-da''', '''uffda''', '''uff-dah''', '''oofda''', '''ufda''', '''ufdah''', '''oofta''', or '''uf daa''') is an exclamation of Norwegian origin adopted by [[Scandinavian-Americans]] in the 19th century. It is an exclamation that is relatively common in the [[Upper Midwest]]ern states of the [[United States]].<ref>[http://oaks.nvg.org/noam-uffda.html ''Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity'' (Tormod Kinnes. The Gold Scales)]</ref>


==Usage==
==Usage==
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| last = Writers| first = John Ewoldt; Lynn Underwood; Staff| title = Dollars & sense; What's in store in Red Wing?| work = [[Star Tribune]] (Minneapolis, Minn.)| accessdate = 2009-09-19}}</ref>
| last = Writers| first = John Ewoldt; Lynn Underwood; Staff| title = Dollars & sense; What's in store in Red Wing?| work = [[Star Tribune]] (Minneapolis, Minn.)| accessdate = 2009-09-19}}</ref>
*The Uff da Mountain Boys is a band from the [[Fergus Falls, Minnesota]] area, playing Scandinavian and [[bluegrass music]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Enderlin Independent: North Dakota | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | url = http://www.enderlinindependent.com/4DLink2/4dcgi/Get_News_Story/PB100069/PB100069-3495/1 }}</ref>
*The Uff da Mountain Boys is a band from the [[Fergus Falls, Minnesota]] area, playing Scandinavian and [[bluegrass music]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Enderlin Independent: North Dakota | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | url = http://www.enderlinindependent.com/4DLink2/4dcgi/Get_News_Story/PB100069/PB100069-3495/1 }}</ref>
*[[New Glarus Brewing Company]] markets a brand of beer called Uff-da Bock <ref>{{Cite news | last = Williams-Masson | first = Ellen | title = New Glarus Brew-haha on Tap | work = [[The Capital Times]] (Madison, Wisconsin) | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | date = 2006-03-15 }}</ref>
*[[New Glarus Brewing Company]] markets a brand of beer called Uff-da Bock.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Williams-Masson | first = Ellen | title = New Glarus Brew-haha on Tap | work = [[The Capital Times]] (Madison, Wisconsin) | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | date = 2006-03-15 }}</ref>
* The logo of the [[Fargo Marathon]] includes the phrase ''26.2 miles&nbsp; ... Uffda!''<ref>{{Cite web | title = 2009FargoMarathonNewsletter012009 | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | url = http://www.fargomarathon.com/newsletter/2009jan20.html }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* The logo of the [[Fargo Marathon]] includes the phrase ''26.2 miles&nbsp; ... Uffda!''<ref>{{Cite web | title = 2009FargoMarathonNewsletter012009 | accessdate = 2009-09-19 | url = http://www.fargomarathon.com/newsletter/2009jan20.html }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
*Panaracer, a [[Bicycle]] [[tire]] maker, has a tire type called Uff Da! . It is intended for urban [[Dirt Jumping]] use.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Panaracer| title = Panaracer Uff Da! 26 x 2.3 Urban Jumping Tire |url=http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Uff-Urban-Jumping-Tire/dp/B001CJZ2B0/}}</ref>
*Panaracer, a [[Bicycle]] [[tire]] maker, has a tire type called Uff Da! . It is intended for urban [[Dirt Jumping]] use.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Panaracer| title = Panaracer Uff Da! 26 x 2.3 Urban Jumping Tire |url=http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Uff-Urban-Jumping-Tire/dp/B001CJZ2B0/}}</ref>
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* A [[interest group|citizens' group]] called ''Uff-Da Wal-Mart'' campaigned against the construction of a [[Wal-Mart]] [[Supercenter]] in [[Stoughton, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{Cite news | last = Williams | first = Beth | title = Stoughton Group Wants Wal-mart Plan Reconsidered | work = [[Wisconsin State Journal]] (Madison, WI) | accessdate = 2009-09-19 }}</ref>
* A [[interest group|citizens' group]] called ''Uff-Da Wal-Mart'' campaigned against the construction of a [[Wal-Mart]] [[Supercenter]] in [[Stoughton, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{Cite news | last = Williams | first = Beth | title = Stoughton Group Wants Wal-mart Plan Reconsidered | work = [[Wisconsin State Journal]] (Madison, WI) | accessdate = 2009-09-19 }}</ref>
* There is an OOVVDA Winery in [[Springfield, MO]] that is a [[homonym]] for Uff da and is also an [[acronym]] - opened in 2005.<ref>[http://www.oovvda.com ''About OOVVDA Winery'' (OOVVDA)]</ref>
* There is an OOVVDA Winery in [[Springfield, MO]] that is a [[homonym]] for Uff da and is also an [[acronym]] - opened in 2005.<ref>[http://www.oovvda.com ''About OOVVDA Winery'' (OOVVDA)]</ref>
*Uff-Da Tacos is a food stand based in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|St. Paul]] [[exurb]] of [[Stillwater, MN|Stillwater]] that travels to [[county fair]]s and other events across the Midwest.
*Uff-Da Tacos is a food stand based in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|St. Paul]] [[exurb]] of [[Stillwater, MN|Stillwater]] that travels to [[county fair]]s and other events across the Midwest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oofdatacos.com |title=OOf-da Tacos}}</ref>
*The Uff Da Mud Run is an athletic event in [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Uff Da Mud Run | accessdate = 2013-01-06 | url = http://endracing.com/uff-da }}</ref>
*The Uff Da Mud Run is an athletic event in [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Uff Da Mud Run | accessdate = 2013-01-06 | url = http://endracing.com/uff-da }}</ref>
*UFFDA is an acronym used by a hunting group called United Foundation For Disabled Archers in Minnesota.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:50, 29 September 2015

Uff da (sometimes also spelled huffda, uff-da, uffda, uff-dah, oofda, ufda, ufdah, oofta, or uf daa) is an exclamation of Norwegian origin adopted by Scandinavian-Americans in the 19th century. It is an exclamation that is relatively common in the Upper Midwestern states of the United States.[1]

Usage

Uff da is often used in the Upper Midwest as a term for sensory overload. It can be used as an expression of surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, relief and sometimes dismay. For many, Uff da is an all-purpose expression with a variety of nuances, and covering a variety of situations. The expression has lost its original connotation, and it is increasingly difficult to specify what it means now in America. Within Scandinavian-American culture, Uff da frequently translates into: I am overwhelmed. It has become a mark of Scandinavian roots, particularly for people from Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Minnesota, and Upper Peninsula of Michigan.[2][3] Uff da can often be used as an alternative for many common obscenities.

Norway

In Norwegian, uff or huff is an interjection used when something is unpleasant, uncomfortable, hurtful, annoying, sad, or irritating.[4] Uff da is most often used as a response when hearing something lamentable (but not too serious), and could often be translated as Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.[5]

Allusions

The following are some examples of how Uff da has become established in parts of the upper Midwest of the United States, often in a humorous way.

See also

References

  1. ^ Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity (Tormod Kinnes. The Gold Scales)
  2. ^ Clark, Jayne. "True blue North? You betcha!". USA Today. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ Lovoll, Odd S. The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1998)
  4. ^ "Søk i Bokmåls- og Nynorskordboka". Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  5. ^ Haugen, Einar Norwegian American Dictionary/Norsk engelsk ordbok (University of Wisconsin. 1985) ISBN 0-299-03874-2
  6. ^ Writers, John Ewoldt; Lynn Underwood; Staff. "Dollars & sense; What's in store in Red Wing?". Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.). {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Enderlin Independent: North Dakota". Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  8. ^ Williams-Masson, Ellen (2006-03-15). "New Glarus Brew-haha on Tap". The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin). {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. ^ "2009FargoMarathonNewsletter012009". Retrieved 2009-09-19. [dead link]
  10. ^ Panaracer Uff Da! 26 x 2.3 Urban Jumping Tire. Panaracer.
  11. ^ "FAA Information about Uff-da Airport (2WI1)". Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  12. ^ Williams, Beth. "Stoughton Group Wants Wal-mart Plan Reconsidered". Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI). {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ About OOVVDA Winery (OOVVDA)
  14. ^ "OOf-da Tacos".
  15. ^ "Uff Da Mud Run". Retrieved 2013-01-06.

Other sources

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