"Oh, he pwned you!"-I'm Not Living in the Dark Anymore

Kinkatia's picture

I'll admit, I'm usually very reluctant to ask questions about the popular slang if I don't know what something means. I usually can pick up on it through context and whatever word it was probably based off of.

But not this one. I'm tired of living in the dark. My curiosity has been piqued, and I must satisfy it!

"Pwn."

Three questions. What does it mean? Where does it come frome? And why does it make my inner editor want to kill something?!

I feel rather stupid for not knowing. But my brothers, who usually know this stuff, can't seem to give me a coherent explanation, and I've got way too much time to kill today. So, here goes.

Can anyone out there explain to me what it means? Please?

And does anyone at all know where it came from. I have an insane and inexplicable obsession with the origins of words. I desperately need to know, so I can move on to speculating about other, more important things...maybe quantum mechanics.

Then there's my inner editor, who, every time she sees it or its forms (pwn, pwned, pwnage, and on DragonFable, pwny), goes into a fit of rage and throws furniture around in her little home in my mind. It's rather frightening. But for some reason, the word infuriates her beyond belief. I'm hoping shedding a little light on it and its origins will calm her...

So...can anyone out there help me feel less socially inept?

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

I'm not sure about the validity of my source of information, but I've heard that the word comes to us from online gamers. You've heard the word "owned" used by gamers to show their superiority over losers; apparently, "pwned" means the same thing, and came into being when some online gamer made a typo ("you got pwned" instead of "you got owned") in his excitement. For some reason, that caught on...

Kinkatia's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

That would explain a lot...especially why my inner editor gets in such a tizzy over it. She hates typos with a passion. XD

But it makes a lot of sense, too...Thanks for clearing that up for me! I appreciate it much!

And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.

Your source must be pretty valid because that's always what I've always heard.

chelsea.correa929's picture

grrrrr..
one thing that annoys me...
people post pictures..and underneath it says "Regan owns" or "David owns"
grr

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Poison_Ivy's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

How do you PRONOUNCE that word (I guess I am equally inept!)

ZelKwin's picture

I usually hear it 'Pohn' (po as in poh like bow, not pow as in towel, or on as in john)
Total pwnage XD

haHA!

Kinkatia's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

Or like Mikesta707 said, it's pronounced like "own" with a p tacked onto the front.
That was another thing I was wondering about, until my nee-chan said it in school a couple of weeks ago. xD

And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.

Yeah, Pwn comes from Own, which is a slang term used by gamers when they kill someone in an embarrassing, or otherwise goodly way (IE they go on a killing spree or something)

The word pwn came from when someone accidentally typed owned wrong, and it stuck from there. So yes, it did originate from a typo, much like other slang internet words

It is pronounced pown (as in own with a p in front if it) or sometimes pawned if your crazy

Poison_Ivy's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

Since it's an on-line gaming thing, I'll bet it began with a simple misspelling of owned. Someone typed a "p" instead of an "o" and it stuck.

Fallon's picture
Managing Director of Progressive U

My husband asks me daily if he can get that or a variation thereof on our license plate.

The Urban Dictionary is great for looking up these things (though it should really come with a graphic detail warning in some cases!)

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pwn

-----
~Fallon~

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't- A. France
-----

mvenus929's picture
Managing Director of Progressive U

Wikipedia is pretty good in this case too.

~C
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Poison_Ivy's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

That link is SO cool! I need to study it so I can improve my urban English - and to drive everyone I know completely insane!

Thanks for sharing that!

ediblewoman's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

...is made of win.

(That's my favorite one. It owns).

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

Kinkatia's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

Stifled Chuckle You leave the greatest comments sometimes, you know that?

And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.

sawaboof's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni AssociationVolunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

so I saw this and thought of your blog... ;-)


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ediblewoman's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

You are the MASTER!

Also, where did you get that, and how did you edit it? I think my little brother needs to get pwned.

/fark much?

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

Fallon's picture
Managing Director of Progressive U

Just type his name in...
ie
http://ediblewoman.justgotowned.com

-----
~Fallon~

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't- A. France
-----

ediblewoman's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

Wow! Who knew it could be so simple to pwn somebody?!

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

sawaboof's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni AssociationVolunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

Someone sent me http://sarah.youaremyfriend.com years and years ago. I somehow found justgotowned through that. :-)

when you are done pwning him, have him check out this to make him feel better...

http://ediblewomansbrother.youaremyfriend.com (and before anyone asks, the music is from DragonHeart)

or

http://ediblewomansbrother.youaremighty.com

:-)


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Fallon's picture
Managing Director of Progressive U

There is also someone.isgay.com
that one though, is kind of cruel albeit amusing.

-----
~Fallon~

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't- A. France
-----

ediblewoman's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

He could use teh You Are Mighty one these days! He can get owned later, when he's back on his feet a little.

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

Kinkatia's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

-insert hysterical laughter here-

And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.

_Meke's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

Sawaboof, those websites are awesome.

Black - Meke
“I hope the departure is joyful and I hope never to return.” - Frida Kahlo

sawaboof's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni AssociationVolunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

thanks! :-)

They were too awesome not to share with everyone fortunate enough to click the link to this blog. :-)


Read my Blogs!

This is Why I'm Hot
ProU Blog

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