Uff da

Uff da (/ˈʊfdə/ ^ⓘ; sometimes also spelled oof-da, oofda, oofala, oof-dah, oofdah, huffda, uff-da, uffda, uff-dah, ufda, ufdah, or uf daa^{[citation needed]}) is a Scandinavian^[2] exclamation or interjection used to express dismay, typically upon hearing bad news.

Of Norwegian origin, the phrase was brought to the United States by Scandinavian Americans specifically to the Upper Midwest, New England, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States during the 19th century, where its meaning was broadened to express also surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, or relief.

Danish and Norwegian usage

In Danish and Norwegian language, uf (Danish and older Norwegian spelling) or uff (current Norwegian spelling) is a mild and polite vernacular interjection used when something is unpleasant, uncomfortable, hurtful, annoying, sad, or irritating.^[3]^[4] The word is an onomatopoeia^[5] corresponding to English oof, Dutch oef and German uff. Other similar interjections exist in Danish, e.g. uha or føj,^[3] and Norwegian, e.g. huff.^[5] Uff da may be used in Norwegian as a response when hearing something lamentable (but not too serious), and can be translated as "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that".^[6] Da is derived from Old Norse þá meaning 'then' in this context (similar to e.g. the response "ok, then"); both da and English then (from Old English þanne, þænne, þonne) are derived from Proto-Germanic *þan ('at that (time), then').^[7] The Swedish exclamations ojdå and usch då are similar in meaning, with Swedish då corresponding to Norwegian da.^[8]^[9]^[10] Uff is a Swedish word with the same meaning as the Norwegian word, it is documented in writing from 1770.^[11]^[12]

North American usage

Uff da is a marker of Scandinavian heritage, predominantly heard in the upper Midwest, which has a significant population with Scandinavian roots. It also is used throughout the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the Washington city of Stanwood^[13] and the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard.^[14] Its variety of meanings let it substitute for common obscenities.^[15] Within Scandinavian-American culture, uff da frequently translates to "I am overwhelmed", somewhat similar to the Yiddish phrase oy vey.

It has also been applied to places and events, such as:

Uff-Da Airport, located in Stoughton, Wisconsin.^[16]
Uffda Fest!, an annual event held in Spring Grove, Minnesota.^[17]
Uff Da Days, an annual event held in Ostrander, Minnesota.^[18]
Uffda Day Fall Festival, an annual event held in Rutland, North Dakota.^[19]^[20]
The Uff-Da Shoppe, located in Stanwood, Washington.^[21]
Uff Da! Sign Store, located in Wausau, Wisconsin.^[22]

References

^ "Uff Da! Ya'll Viking/Cowboy". Retrieved 2023-01-16.
^ "Understanding Uffda: A Guide to Classic Expressions". 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
^ ^a ^b "uf". Den Danske Ordbog. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^ "Søk i Bokmåls- og Nynorskordboka". Retrieved 2009-09-19.
^ ^a ^b "uff". Det Norske Akademis ordbok. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^ Haugen, Einar (1985). Norwegian English dictionary : a pronouncing and translating dictionary of modern Norwegian [Bokmål and Nynorsk], with a historical and grammatical introduction. University of Wisconsin. ISBN 0-299-03874-2
^ "da". Det Norske Akademis ordbok. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
^ "Uff Da defined". Sons of Norway Blog. March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ Anette Broteng Christiansen (April 18, 2012). "'Uff da!' – A Piece of Norway in the U.S." Thor News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ "ojdå". Wiktionary. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ "uff | SAOB | svenska.se" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-02-20.
^ "uff | SAOL | svenska.se" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-02-20.
^ "You can find me where the lutefisk is". 21 October 2010.
^ "Ballard". Your Destination Guide to Seattle.
^ Rob Lein (26 April 2003). "Vikings bumble in draft? Uff da". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
^ "Uff-Da Airport". airnav.com. 28 February 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ "UffDa Fest". Spring Grove Lions Club. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ "Uff Da Days". Ostrander, MN. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^ "Uffda Day". rutlandnd.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.^{[dead link]}
^ Martin, Jonathan, "Court Battle Shifts the Political Terrain for Senators in the Heartland", New York Times, October 7, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
^ "Uff Da Shoppe: Scandinavian Gifts". www.uffdashoppe.com. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
^ "Uff Da! Sign Store".

External links

Kinnes, Tormod. "Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity"
"Uff da!" Archived from lawzone.com/half-nor/uffda.htm
"Rock Bend Folk Festival 2007 – Al Batt". YouTube.

[1] "Uff Da! Ya'll Viking/Cowboy". Retrieved 2023-01-16.

[2] "Understanding Uffda: A Guide to Classic Expressions". 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-25.

[ordnetdk-3] "uf". Den Danske Ordbog. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

[4] "Søk i Bokmåls- og Nynorskordboka". Retrieved 2009-09-19.

[naob-5] "uff". Det Norske Akademis ordbok. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

[6] Haugen, Einar (1985). Norwegian English dictionary : a pronouncing and translating dictionary of modern Norwegian [Bokmål and Nynorsk], with a historical and grammatical introduction. University of Wisconsin. ISBN 0-299-03874-2

[7] "da". Det Norske Akademis ordbok. Retrieved 4 March 2021.

[8] "Uff Da defined". Sons of Norway Blog. March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[9] Anette Broteng Christiansen (April 18, 2012). "'Uff da!' – A Piece of Norway in the U.S." Thor News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[10] "ojdå". Wiktionary. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[11] "uff | SAOB | svenska.se" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-02-20.

[12] "uff | SAOL | svenska.se" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-02-20.

[13] "You can find me where the lutefisk is". 21 October 2010.

[14] "Ballard". Your Destination Guide to Seattle.

[15] Rob Lein (26 April 2003). "Vikings bumble in draft? Uff da". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2009-09-19.

[16] "Uff-Da Airport". airnav.com. 28 February 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[17] "UffDa Fest". Spring Grove Lions Club. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[18] "Uff Da Days". Ostrander, MN. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

[19] "Uffda Day". rutlandnd.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.^{[dead link]}

[20] Martin, Jonathan, "Court Battle Shifts the Political Terrain for Senators in the Heartland", New York Times, October 7, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-08.

[21] "Uff Da Shoppe: Scandinavian Gifts". www.uffdashoppe.com. Retrieved 2022-11-19.

[22] "Uff Da! Sign Store".

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