Italian word of the day: 'Boh'
Where did this expression come from? Why do Italians say it so often? Is it even a word? Who knows!
If you're anything like me, there'll be plenty of times in Italy when you just don't know the answer.
Why hasn't a single bus come in 45 minutes? I don't know. Do you really need that piece of paperwork or can you get by with a wink and a smile? I don't know. Which region makes the best pasta? Heaven help me, I don't know.
That's why I'm such a big fan of today's word: boh.
It means 'I don't know', but in its most informal form – like when we shorten the phrase to 'dunno'.
– Di dov'è?
– Boh, forse Puglia... ma che ne so?
– Where's she from?
– Dunno, maybe Puglia... but what do I know?
Don't be fooled by the transcription: it doesn't rhyme with "oh" or "so" in English. Instead the vowel is shorter: more of a "buh".
And according to the dictionary, Italians have been making this funny B sound since circa 1840 to express "doubt, indifference or reticence".
– Com'è andata?
– Boh! Vediamo.
– How did it go?
– Who knows? We'll see.
– Quale preferisci?
– Boh!
– Which one do you prefer?
– I dunno! (or: I don't care)
Italians often underline their point by what I like to think of as Doing The Boh: a thrust of the chin forward and up, lips pulled down. If the tone you're going for is "how the heck should I know?", spread your palms up and out for emphasis.
One final note: boh is not to be confused with similar sounding beh, which means 'well...' or bah, which means... actually, that one's a little more complicated. Perhaps we'll come to it another time. Who knows?
Do you have a favourite Italian word, phrase or expression you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.
Comments
See Also
If you're anything like me, there'll be plenty of times in Italy when you just don't know the answer.
Why hasn't a single bus come in 45 minutes? I don't know. Do you really need that piece of paperwork or can you get by with a wink and a smile? I don't know. Which region makes the best pasta? Heaven help me, I don't know.
That's why I'm such a big fan of today's word: boh.
It means 'I don't know', but in its most informal form – like when we shorten the phrase to 'dunno'.
– Di dov'è?
– Boh, forse Puglia... ma che ne so?
– Where's she from?
– Dunno, maybe Puglia... but what do I know?
Don't be fooled by the transcription: it doesn't rhyme with "oh" or "so" in English. Instead the vowel is shorter: more of a "buh".
And according to the dictionary, Italians have been making this funny B sound since circa 1840 to express "doubt, indifference or reticence".
– Com'è andata?
– Boh! Vediamo.
– How did it go?
– Who knows? We'll see.
– Quale preferisci?
– Boh!
– Which one do you prefer?
– I dunno! (or: I don't care)
Italians often underline their point by what I like to think of as Doing The Boh: a thrust of the chin forward and up, lips pulled down. If the tone you're going for is "how the heck should I know?", spread your palms up and out for emphasis.
One final note: boh is not to be confused with similar sounding beh, which means 'well...' or bah, which means... actually, that one's a little more complicated. Perhaps we'll come to it another time. Who knows?
Do you have a favourite Italian word, phrase or expression you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.