Origin of the slang term "pwned"

The Core RPGC Main Forum
#1

Most of you here know of the popular fad that is to replace the o in owned into a p, turning it into pwned.

Here are the origins of it.

Now all I have to do is figure out which is the real one. The 5th one sounds the most likely to me.:mwahaha:
What do you think?

#2

I was saying “pwned” before I even knew it was a “real” word…it’s quite a common typo.

#3

I know its just a misspelling not sure of the origin, but with thousands of gamers typing “owned” all over the net theres bound to be typos and they stick, just like pr0n

#4

So, you’re saying a website that ANYONE can submit information to is an authoritative source on etymology?

This one is especially funny:

its pronounced P00NED you n00bs, dont make me pwn your whole n0bbish clan

A reliable source I’m sure, despite the lack of proper grammar.
I personally imagine it to be “pawned,” with as little emphasis on the “a” sound as possible.

#5

Well the ones that are serious are possible origins.
Pay no attention to the joke ones.

#6

I always pronounce it in my head as “pound.” Makes sense to me. :stuck_out_tongue:

#7

I always assumed it meant pawned, as in you go to a pawn shop and pawn some individual, it made sense.

#8

Well it actually means “owned”.
You never knew that?

#9

For its origins, you need look no further than the placement of the ‘P’ key directly next to the ‘O’ on a standard keyboard. I just say ‘owned’ myself, and I did always imagine ‘pwned’ pronounced ‘pawned’.

I was never sure whether that particular use of the word ‘owned’ came from gaming either. I can recall back in middle school before internet gaming became so widespread where is was used to term the loser of a verbal or physical battle. Still is.

Most of the original internet slang words trace their origins back of course to chat rooms, or even the old MUD games.

#10

I’d say the same as Caleb…
The O and P keys are just next to each other…
And it’s impossible to know which game it started in, 'cause it’s a very easy misspelling to do so it might have started in several different places at different times, totally independent of eachother…

#11

Yeah I also just said “owned” because the whole debating thing over the pronounciation of a mispelled word in the first place is kinda silly to me.

#12

I’ve always pronounced it “poond.”

#13

I’ve pronounced it as a slightly twangy version of “punned”.

And I also buy into it just being because of the O and P keys…heck, I could come up with a dozen theories like those guys did. I don’t buy into that much, interesting as it may be.

#14

I always pronounced it “punned” too.
I guess you have a point about the P and O keys.

#15

I always pronouced it as “owned” with a P. I’m not sure how you’d spell that…“powend” doesn’t look like that…but that’s how I pronouce it.

#16

Ugh, i hate internet slang and hax0r. It’s like talking to someone with a bunch of marbles in their mouth.

#17

Originally posted by GG Crono 4
I always pronouced it as “owned” with a P. I’m not sure how you’d spell that…“powend” doesn’t look like that…but that’s how I pronouce it.

Same with me =)

#18

SK, Zero, do you remember our little fantastic voyage?

#19

pwnage.

#20

Originally posted by Yar Kramer
I’ve always pronounced it “poond.”